A BARANGAY official in Baguio City submitted himself to the police for the third time to clear his name anew.
Police Regional Office-Cordillera (PRO-COR) on Tuesday, June 22, 2020, presented in a virtual press conference three individuals, including "Willy" who went out to clear their name for alleged involvement with rebel groups in the Cordillera.
In a phone interview, "Willy" said he went to Camp Dangwa to clear his name for the third time from the Periodic Status Report of Threat Groups (PSRTG) list.
“I went to Camp Dangwa after having been informed that my name was still at the PSRTG list and I presented and left a copy of the court decision to members of the intelligence department of PRO-COR, which found me not guilty of alleged murder and frustrated murder charges. Pagkalinawan assured me that PRO-COR will process the clearing of my name from the list and of being a member of the Communist Terrorist Groups,” Willy stressed.
Previously, Willy went to Camp Dangwa with the assistance of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-Cordillera Regional Director Jose Limmayog and submitted a copy of the decision of the court in 2006.
Willy suspects that the inclusion of his name to the PSRTG list may be due to the changing of command in PRO-COR.
Police alleged Willy to be an activist operating in Baguio City who entered the leftist group sometime in 1986 and became a leader of various sectoral organizations based in Baguio City and Benguet province, specifically Bayan Muna and served as a volunteer mediator at the Philippine Mediation Center in Baguio City and Benguet.
Based on PRO-COR records, in 2007, he was arrested along Abanao, Street, Baguio City by a warrant of arrest for frustrated murder and seven counts of murder.
All seven cases were dismissed on March 16, 2008, for the failure of the prosecution to present their witnesses.
He also carried with him a monetary reward of P500,000 under the Department of National Defense-Department of the Interior and Local Government (DND-DILG) Memorandum Circular 02-2007.
“I even personally went to Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong to seek his help and who gave me the assurance that he will help me. The mayor advised me to make an affidavit, a cover letter, and a copy of the court decision and ask an Attorney on the specific contents of the cover letter that will answer why I am clearing my name. Mayor Magalong said that he will protect me,” Willy added.
Willy reiterated that he has been a barangay official, serving as a barangay kagawad for 10 years and eventually becoming the barangay chairman.
“This is my third time to voluntarily submit myself at Camp Dangwa to again clear my name. I hope PRO-COR will finally clear my name. In 2010 I ran for a barangay position to which up to the present, I am still serving our barangay as an official,” Willy added.