NEGROS Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOCPPO) director Romeo Baleros said he was only protecting the provincial police headquarters that’s why members of the Makabayan Bloc of the House of Representatives were barred entry.
Police Colonel Baleros is also firm not to give them access inside the Camp Alfredo Montelibano in Barangay Camingawan.
Baleros made these explanations as to why he barred the members of the Makabayan Bloc of the House of Representatives from entering Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr. last week, following the raids in Bacolod City’s Barangay Bata.
According to Baleros, the group of Bayan Muna Party-list representative Carlos Zarate and the other leaders of the Makabayan Bloc are “masters of deception.”
He pointed out that he was only protecting the camp especially after the progressive groups are now being suspected of having links to the New People’s Army (NPA).
“If we let them enter the camp, they will know where the prisoners are being held and they will know how to rescue their members,” Baleros said.
The NOCPPO director added if Zarate wants to talk with him, they can talk outside but he will never give them access inside the camp.
Last week, Zarate along with former Bayan Muna party-list representative Neri Colmenares and members of the fact-finding team organized by other progressive groups were barred from entering Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr. in Bacolod City’s Barangay Estefania.
Zarate and his group were supposed to visit the 55 individuals initially held inside the camp after police and the Philippine Army raided several progressive group offices in Bacolod City and Escalante City.
Zarate, Colmenares, and Gabriella party-list representative Arlene Brosas were later allowed to enter and meet with the detainees, with Zarate claiming they were allowed to enter because they asserted their right to visit the detained activists. (TDE)