Sunday, May 04, 2008 Mejorada: No need for PB to probe IRC mess By Erwin Cabarles
THE Provincial Board (PB) specifically the Committee on Public Order and Safety, which conducts investigation on the mishaps that have occurred in the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (IRC), has not enough jurisdiction on the said issues, thus should end its probe now.
Iloilo Provincial Administrator Manuel Mejorada has expressed this in his letter addressed to the PB, but it was consequently trashed.
Mejorada said it is not the role of the PB to conduct such investigation but that of the executive.
"Ang hambal nila their investigation is in aid of legislation pero ang amo na nga imbestigasyon iya na naya dapat sang ehekutibo kag sang kapulisan (They said their investigation is in aid of legislation but such duty is of the executive and the Philippine National Police)," Mejorada said.
He said there is nothing for the PB, as it has no knowledge of what it is doing.
He also explained that there is already a report from the authorities, specifically from Iloilo Police Provincial Office (Ippo) Chief and Concurrent IRC Warden Senior Superintendent Ricardo De la Paz, regarding the issue so there is no need for the PB to further investigate.
With regards to the PB denying his request, Mejorada said it is up to them if they should remain "stubborn."
To recall, Board Member Oscar "Richard" Garin Jr., chairman of the committee, earlier said that Mejorada is not qualified to make any opinion or suggestion on what the Board should do.
On the other hand, Governor Niel Tupas Sr. said that indeed it is beyond the function of the PB to conduct such an investigation, as it is the duty of his office and that of the cops.
With regards to the query the PB is planning to set guidelines for future wardens of the IRC, Tupas said they could use the results of his office's investigation on IRC and there is no need for them to do a separate investigation.
Moreover, Tupas said he is firm on his decision that he would not authorize De la Paz to appear in the hearing of Garin's committee. De la Paz has twice failed to show up in the said committee hearing. (EC)
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