Wednesday, January 24, 2007 Justice chief questions presence of Air Force plane in Iloilo during siege
JUSTICE Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. has asked the Philippine Air Force (PAF) to explain the presence of a C-130 aircraft loaded with military officers at the height of the police's siege of the Provincial Capitol of Iloilo last week.
In a letter to Lieutenant General Jose Reyes, commanding general of the PAF based in Villamor Airbase in Pasay City, Gonzalez said he has confirmed reports that a -C130 plane was sighted hovering at the Capitol during the serving of the Ombudsman's dismissal order against Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas Sr.
"I have it confirmed that a C-130 aircraft had a special flight to Iloilo last week which was used to transport several young military officers at the height of the problem at the Provincial Capitol of Iloilo. Why was there an urgency to have a special C-130 flight to Iloilo? The flight of the C-130 cannot be denied. This has been checked by me with the ATO (Air Transportation Office) in the Iloilo airport," he said.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Armed Forces Chief Hermogenes Esperon Jr. were also furthered a copy of the letter to Reyes.
Gonzalez said he has been receiving "very reliable" information that military personnel with firearms of the M14 type were brought to Iloilo to augment the so-called "defenders" of the Provincial Capitol against the PNP officers who were to serve the Ombudsman's dismissal order.
He further stated that the military officers who were allegedly in the C-130 plane could have been classmates of Tupas's son Raul, also mayor of the municipality of Barotac Viejo, at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).
In a separate letter addressed to Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Gonzalez claimed that rebel-soldier Colonel Billy Bibit was seen in the Iloilo Capitol together with Palmita Patricio, said to be a secretary of rebel military officers led by detained former senator Gregorio "Gringo" Honasan.
Gonzalez said the group, composed of some 100 identified members of the Guardians, mixed with the leftist-oriented Bayan-Panay inside the capitol.
A .30 caliber machinegun was supposedly mounted at the canopy of the capitol building, and that a certain Captain Calisico, said to be from the PAF, was also seen together with some 30 armed persons who converged in the office of the governor.
"It has also been noted that men with MP5 sub-machineguns were positions and hidden inside a secret room inside the office of Governor Tupas. This secret room is said to be a pantry and leads to a secret elevator, which was used for the escape of armed groups when the PNP started to surround the provincial capitol building and grounds," he said.
Gonzalez further said armed provincial guards were sent to the Provincial capitol, notwithstanding the "gun ban" already in effect.
He said the provincial guards were reported to be led by Provincial Warden Col. Juan Mabugat (ret.) who was seen wearing a bullet proof vest and is reported to be the owner of one cal. 5.56 baby armalite rifle with 90 rounds of ammunition and with serial umber 415791.
"Provincial jail inmates were released under the guise of being brought out to attend court hearings. But if so, why were they inside the provincial capitol grounds instead of the Hall of Justice building? I am led to believe that the incident was more of a charade than an actual police operation," he said, pointing out that the PNP director in the province allowed a series of extensions before serving the dismissal order.
He said this was supposedly to allow Tupas to secure a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Court of Appeals (CA) in Cebu.
"The unfortunate result is that our police are the ones being blamed for the incident. I think that an honest to goodness investigation is in order," he added.
During a press briefing, Gonzalez branded as "mere hogwash" the claims of Senator Franklin Drilon that he is responsible for ordering the police to takeover the Capitol.
"Why should I be held responsible? I was not the one who ordered his (Tupas) dismissal. That's funny. He is mouthing something which is pure hogwash. That's part of their lies. I challenge everybody to prove that I have something to do with that and those who are not telling the truth should be shot," he said.
Gonzalez said the reason why Drilon is urging him to run was so he would resign as head of the Department of Justice (DOJ), something which he said he cannot oblige.
"They want me out of DOJ because I stand by the President. I'll defend
Malacañang unlike some people who promised the President to bring Malacañang to Iloilo. I don't abandon what they think is a sinking ship," he said, in a dig at Drilon who shifted gears after withdrawing his support to Arroyo at the height of the “Hello Garci” wiretapping controversy last year. (ECV/Sunnex)
