|
Tuesday, November 11, 2003
Napolcom orders probe on Naia tower takeover
* Gloria reiterates assault on Villaruel, Catchillar was justified
* 4 senators seek Senate probe on incident
THE National Police Commission (Napolcom) Monday ordered an investigation into the alleged "excessive use of force" by airport policemen in killing Capt.
Panfilo Villaruel and Navy Lt. SG Ricardo Catchillar.
Villaruel, who was Air Transportation Office (ATO) chief during President Ramos' term, and Catchillar seized the air traffic control tower of the Ninoy
Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 2 past midnight last Saturday to protest against government corruption and too much politics in the country.
This, as President Arroyo said anew that the assault on Villaruel and Catchillar was justified.
The Senate, meanwhile, may hold its own inquiry on the incident.
Linda Hornilla, Napolcom vice chairman and officer-in-charge, said she instructed Jacinto Campos to verify claims made by the family that the assault
on Villaruel and Catchillar was an "overkill."
Campos is the chief of the Napolcom Investigation, Monitoring and Control Section.
Hornilla said Campos' team is on their way to the Terminal 2 to discuss the issue with Senior Supt. Andres Caro II, head of the Aviation Security Group
(ASG).
Villaruel's wife and son said members of the ASG killed Villaruel despite his "willingness to surrender."
"What they did to my husband was inhuman," Villaruel's widow, Maritess said.
The family also said the police team shot Villaruel in the face point-blank even upon seeing the victim already dead.
Briggs Villaruel, the eldest son of the former ATO chief, was quoted as saying that "only one-fourth" of his father's head remained recognizable as a result of
the shooting.
Proof enough, he said, that excessive force was used in taking down his father.
Meanwhile, the PNP Crime Laboratory on Monday conducted paraffin tests on both Villaruel and Catchillar.
Chief Supt. Restituto Mosqueda, director of the crime laboratory, declined to disclose the results of the test.
He said only PNP Chief Hermogenes Ebdane and the Villaruel and Catchillar families are allowed to see the results.
Defense
President Arroyo Monday defended anew the police assault against Villaruel and Catchillar
"The killing was justified because a national security installation was under threat," Arroyo said.
"It was the duty of the authorities to regain control of this tower and the most effective way of doing it was to use extreme force," Arroyo added.
"There is no need for a Presidential authorization regarding this matter."
Transportation Sec. Leandro Mendoza, for his part, said the failure of authorities to contain the situation involving Villaruel and Catchillar could
have had "strong repercussions" and could have been "detrimental to national interest."
"The rules of engagement had been observed and the rest of the actions were dictated by situations prevailing in the incident scene," Mendoza said in a
press briefing.
"An act of unlawful interference to civil aviation is terroristic in nature and if not dealt with properly will have strong repercussions and will be detrimental to national interest particularly the economy that affects our own people adversely," Mendoza said.
Mendoza pointed out that the two remained "aggressive" despite the negotiators' "soft approach."
"The attacker of the facility, as well as his family was met with a negative response," Mendoza said.
Mendoza also rejected criticisms that the stand-off could have been resolved even without killing Villaruel and Catchillar.
Senate inquiry
Meanwhile, four senators have urged the appropriate Senate committee to conduct a legislative inquiry on last Saturday's incident.
Senate President Franklin Drilon, Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto and Sens. Ramon Magsaysay Jr. and Robert Barbers have filed separate resolutions on the
incident during a session of the Senate Monday.
The Senate resumed holding sessions Monday after a two-week recess.
In a resolution, Drilon called for a congressional inquiry to look into the probable violation of human rights in the incident amidst reports that Villaruel
and Catchillar were ready to surrender when they allegedly shot to death by the ASG.
He asked the Senate committee on justice and human rights chaired by Sen. Francis Pangilinan and the Senate committee on national defense and security
chaired by Magsaysay to investigate the incident.
In addition, Drilon emphasized that the Senate, with its oversight function, should look into the measures being undertaken in the security of vital
installations.
"This regretful incident brings in issue how unauthorized and armed individuals can gain access to what is supposed to be a highly-restricted and high security area," Drilon added.
Sotto and Barbers, in separate resolutions, said there is a need to review the security measures being enforced in vital facilities nationwide, particularly
at the country's international airports.
"Access to the air traffic control tower should be tightly regulated implementing stringent security measures considering that the air control tower
ensures the orderly and scheduled landings and take-offs of airplanes," the resolution said.
Sotto said the incident has raised urgent questions regarding the security of vital installations such as airports and communication facilities in the country.
For his part, Magsaysay is inclined to conduct an investigation on the incident especially on the lapse in security of a sensitive installation like the
airport.
"We want to make sure that all key installations in the country are well secured and our military and police on guard," Magsaysay added. Miko
Santos/JPM
(November 11, 2003 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[ return
to top ]
[ home
]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
