Friday, January 26, 2007 Police exec says Capitol siege a necessary evil By Nelson C. Robles
POLICE Superintendent Cornelio T. Defensor stood by his men by justifying their act of the recent siege at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol last January 17 amid the negative reactions from the general public and from various media entities.
It was an order from higher authority and could not help but to follow lest they will be charged dereliction of duty.
"My men have not committed a single fault contrary to what the public perceives and the pronouncement of some members of the media," said Defensor.
Defensor poured out his sentiments and failed to hide his discontentment with the way the story of the incident was treated by the media as he was and his men were portrayed like villains instead of protectors.
On the breaking of the glass panel of the doors at the back entrance, Defensor insisted it "was the right thing to do as a lot of employees were trapped inside."
"Remember what happened to the Ultra stampede," he narrated. "We want to avoid the same incident, so it was just proper to break the doors to give way to those trapped inside. We found out all the doors were locked to prevent entry from the outside. What if someone fires a shot" asked Defensor. "There must be ways for people to escape," he added.
Defensor also justified when one of his men aimed his armalite to unarmed civilian as it was a normal reaction for a cop. "Cops are trained this way. They have to be alert to defend themselves at all times. His action was just normal since the body concerned hastily stood up and they were on a hostile environment. If they appear imposing simply because they have to, otherwise, no one would respect them," explained Defensor.
On the act of the cops aiming all their arms upward as seen in television, Defensor justified, "but that's the right way of carrying their guns as they are ascending the chairs on their way to the Office of the Governor, otherwise it could result to accidental firing with their guns pointing downward as they may step on it."
"If you could notice, once they are on flat ground, nozzles of their guns rest on their shoulder for a safe position," Defensor further explained.
"As I said the recent incident in the Capitol is beyond our control. We should not be condemned by the public," said Defensor.
"Kaluluoy lang mga pulis kay naipit sila sa tunga-tunga," (I pity our policemen as they are in quandary whom to follow), said Defensor in vernacular.
"On the other hand, the recent incident serves as an eye-opener for both parties involved. It is a government agency telling us to implement the order against another government agency (Office of the Governor) as the recipient," lamented Defensor. "We are left with no choice but to execute the order no matter how painful it may appear. You see-it is damned if you do, damned if you don't. I blamed both parties and you can quote me on that," he further added.
Defensor again emphasized that as far as his men are concerned, they have not committed any unlawful actions.
