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Friday, January 07, 2005
Provincial Board eyeing probe on Batad incident
By Jay Dooma Balnig and Ruby P. Silubrico
THE Iloilo Provincial Board is planning to summon the three Municipal Board members of Batad who reportedly ordered PO1 Edwin Andog to fire his gun to signal start of the town fiesta's parade in the afternoon of January 1.
Vice Governor Roberto Armada said Councilors Honey Fe Montero, Fernando Ablona, and Liga ng mga Barangay President Harnie Esteval (not Harney Estibal) could face administrative sanctions for their act.
But Armada said there should be a complaint before they can investigate.
Andog, during an investigation with police regional director, Chief Superintendent George Aliño, claimed he merely followed the orders of the three councilors.
But Ablona, in an interview with Aksyon Radyo Iloilo, denied Andog's claim, saying that has not seen Andog during the parade.
Esteval echoed Ablona's denial. He said he told his fellow councilors to use firecrackers instead.
"Let him answer that. It's his fault," Esteval said.
For his part, Andog admitted firing his M16 armalite and said he will "accept the sanction of the higher command."
"What I did was in good faith after I was requested by (Councilor) Esteval," he said.
Lawyer Joseph Celiz, assistant regional director of the National Police Commission, said that granting the three councilors instructed Andog to fire his rifle, the act is still illegal.
Andog must only obey lawful orders from his superiors, Celiz said.
Affidavits
But Senior Superintendent Efren Quintos, police provincial director, said two councilors already submitted their affidavits to the Iloilo Provincial Police Office attesting that they ordered Andog to fire his gun.
He didn't name them though.
"Through their affidavits, they can somehow mitigate Andog's sanction," Quintos said.
Andog is facing sanctions for grave misconduct, which could be tantamount to dismissal.
But Quintos said that with the admission of the two councilors, Andog might just be suspended for three months depending on the decision of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 or the Regional Internal Affairs Service.
Quintos said their investigation will be completed shortly.
The provincial police office is also evaluating the liability of former OIC police chief, SPO4 Eusebio Reyes, by virtue of command responsibility.
(January 7, 2005 issue)
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