Monday, February 05, 2007
W. Visayas guvs visit Palace, Tupas a no-show
By Jay Dooma Balnig and Lory Ann B. Bilbao
GOVERNORS from Western Visayas visited Malacañang last Friday to talk with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo regarding the recent Iloilo Capitol siege involving Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas Sr.
Antique Governor Salvacion Zaldevar-Perez said they were able to meet Arroyo and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno during the dinner meeting.
Tupas did not attend.
Perez added that they, the governors of Western Visayas submitted the resolution they made in condemning the Iloilo Capitol siege that happened last January 17.
They asked Arroyo to relieve the Philippine National Police (PNP) officials who were involved in the Iloilo Provincial Capitol assault last Jan. 17, 2007.
They made this appeal out of fear that what happened will backlash to the Arroyo administration.
The police concerned are Police Regional Director Wilfredo Dulay, Deputy Regional Director for Administration Edwin Pfleider, Deputy Regional Director for Operation Reynaldo Rafal and Negros Occidental Regional Mobile Group Director Pedro Merced.
Perez added that at first, Puno refused to attend the said meeting but upon the insistence of the President, he was able to face the angry governors of Western Visayas.
She added that was had happened to Tupas is just an instrument to expose irregularities that what the trusted men of the president are doing.
Perez, during an earlier press conferences told the media that the "barbaric attack" of the PNP in the symbol of democracy in the regional center, Iloilo Provincial Capitol, would create a precedent to the administration of Arroyo as the attack was shown not only nationwide but also has shaped various opinions in the international scene. Also considering that the senatorial and local elections are to happen very soon.
Perez also defended that Arroyo, who was at the Asean Summit during the assault, had no knowledge on what has been happening in Iloilo.
Perez added that Arroyo granted the request of Ulap President, Governor Erico Aumentado that Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas Sr., be given 72 hours from January 17.
But, Department of Interior and Local Govenrment (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno and PNP Chief Oscar Calderon were not found nor they received Arroyo's order.
The governors also penned a resolution requesting Arroyo to give authority to Aumentado to lead a probe on the incident, which has created bad impressions among Ilonggos.
Last January 17, some 300 police personnel stormed the Capitol after learning that armed men were inside. Some of them broke the building's glass doors in order to get inside. They said they did it so those inside could go out.
Footages from television networks showed that some of them poked guns at the sons and daughter of Tupas as well as members of the media.
Earlier, a fact-finding board by the police said the said personnel did not commit any violations.
Tupas said he was invited by the President to attend the meeting apart from the Western Visayas governors and the League of provinces.For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star General Santos. (February 5, 2007 issue)
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