Saturday, October 04, 2008 Balas boys file raps vs 'streamer rippers'
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Protesting members of the Biyaya A Luluguran at Sisikapan (Balas) have filed charges of malicious mischief and unjust vexation against two suspects who allegedly dismantled an ripped off streamers bearing "Panlilio and Dabu Resign!" signs.
The streamers, stating adverse words against Pampanga Governor Eddie Panlilio and Provincial Administrator Vivian Dabu, were placed near the Capitol flagpole by the protesters.
The complainants submitted their affidavit to City Prosecutor Felizardo Montero on Thursday.
Panlilio earlier prohibited the reinstallation of the streamers on the area, saying that the Arnedo Park "is not a freedom park" and is within the Capitol's jurisdiction.
Two of the four suspects were identified in the police report as Honorio Madla and Joel Castro, both of Barangay Dolores Looban, this city.
The two other suspects, who are still to be identified, reportedly sought refuge at the Capitol building and eventually evaded when Balas boys tried to apprehend them.
A fifth suspect, identified as Rene David of Barangay Lourdes, remains at large. Madla and Castro confessed to authorities that David paid them P500 each to rip and dismantle the streamers.
Witnesses, who requested anonymity, said they saw David, wearing a green shirt, within the Capitol's premises shortly before the incident.
Police are set to summon David to shed light on the matter.
Reports have it that about 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, the suspects gathered in the area and started ripping off the streamers from their bamboo posts.
But Balas protesters, who were gathered at their picket line near Capitol Boulevard, saw the suspects while destroying the streamers. The suspects scampered but they were pursued by the Balas members.
One of the suspects was caught by protesters when he jumped off the railroad bridge near Barangay Sta. Lucia. The other suspect on the other hand was cornered at the back of the Capitol in Barangay Sto. Niño Viejo.
The suspects were able to rip off seven streamers valued by the protesters at P14,000.
Madla and Castro, apologizing to the sacked quarry workers, said they were paid to "do the job."
The suspects are currently detained at the city jail and a bail of P2,000 has been recommended by court officials for each of them.
The protesters said they were surprised by the incident because they were expecting something big to happen.
They showed several text messages indicating that they will be dispersed anytime during the day. But the dispersal order never came, they said.
Panlilio clarified that he did not order the removal of the said streamers.
He however admitted that some of his supporters volunteered to remove the said streamers.
"There are people who are getting tired of what the Balas is doing and we have put up with this for quite too long," Panlilio said. "We will get into the bottom of the said incident."
Surprisingly, the protesters believed that the priest-turned-governor had nothing to do with the incident.
Former Balas leader Edu de Leon said "We still believe that Governor Panlilio would not do anything like that or would go that extent of paying other people to commit such malicious acts." (JTD)
