Wednesday, October 08, 2008 Councilors seek DCPO help on NPA allegations By Grace L. Plata
MEMBERS of the Davao City Council met with Davao City Police Director Ramon Apolinario Tuesday regarding the fact that three of its members have been linked with the New People's Army (NPA), whether as supporters or enemies, over the past months.
First was Councilor Angela Librado-Trinidad who claimed having been harassed in her home by unknown men allegedly because she was an NPA sympathizer. This is partly due of her affiliation with militant group Bayan Muna.
Next victim was Councilor Arnolfo Ricardo Cabling who was said to be in the hit list of the NPA.
The latest is Councilor Peter Laviña who was reported to have sheltered the NPA in his property in Tamayong.
Laviña, in his privilege speech Tuesday, flatly denied the allegation, saying he has no property in Tamayong.
"I do have another property but it is in Komunal," Laviña said in a separate interview.
Laviña said he came about the report through a broadcast in a local AM radio whose broadcaster said he got the report from police intelligence sources.
He added that Apolinario confirmed there are such reports regarding them.
"He said that maraming reports. Mostly through police intelligence, others through anonymous text messages but as of now, wala pang verified or confirmed. We are made to be more careful and he [Apolinario] asssured us we are safe," Laviña said.
He added that there must me a method to the madness, especially that members of the City Council are picked out one by one.
"I am the flavor of the month. Sino kaya ang susunod? It may be na meron talagang galit sa amin or they just want us to be talked about," Laviña joked. "We already informed Mayor Duterte regarding this."
Cabling, on the other hand, brushed aside the reports.
"There is little concern for that aside from mas lalo kaming nag-iingat. But I really don't think is enough reason for myself to be on the order of battle. I have just been doing my job," he said in Tuesday's interview.
"Most of the report regarding me came from the Army who sourced it from an arrested NPA member. But there is doubt to the credibility of the arrested person aside from the fact that he is a minor daw," Cabling said.
Councilors Trinidad, Cabling and Laviña admitted that aside from being more careful, they could not do anything else regarding the matter.
