Saturday, August 04, 2007 Prov’l dad clears Hacienda Pula of military presence By Gil Alfredo B. Severino
NEGROS Occidental Provincial Board (PB) Member Patrick Lacson has responded to the complains of neighborhood living within the vicinity of New People’s Army (NPA) leader Leopoldo Ilustrisimo now lying in state in Hacienda Pula, Silay City.
As earlier reported, armed men were surrounding houses of Ilustrisimo’s neighbors causing fear and certain disturbances.
Residents numbering around 30 were escorted by Karapatan-Negros Secretary General Fred Caña in airing complains before the office of Lacson, chairman of PB committee on human rights.
In his investigation, Lacson was unable to draw conclusion as to the identities of armed men surrounding the wake of Ilustrisimo and vicinities, saying, “This is understandable because residents who approached me feared for their lives upon seeing deadly weapons.”
“Immediately, I connected with the military and Provincial Police Chief Rosendo Franco for assessment of the situation. I was glad that as of this time, those armed men pulled out of the area,” Lacson said.
Lacson refused to disclosed details of who he contacted in the military to ease tension in Hacienda Pula except the one million-peso reward for the capture of Ilustrisimo as explained by Franco.
He also refused to disclose details of meeting with Caña after the meeting with Hacienda Pula residents.
