Polibiz
Tupas an icon
January 17, 2007 will go down in history as a day of infamy in the province of Iloilo when the capitol, considered the bastion of power and democracy was put under siege by the people whom we expect to protect us from harm.
The group of young men in full battle gear from the Regional Mobile Group tasked to invade the capitol building was recalled from their camp in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental upon their arrival from a special mission.
Earlier, they were commissioned to give security for the visiting heads of states attending the recent 12th ASEAN SUMMIT held in Cebu City .
Just a day after it was wrapped an order of assault from higher authority reached the camp ordering the same troops whose backs hardly reach their beds for a much needed rest.
On, they went to Iloilo Provincial Capitol in haste catching the first vessel available after a brief tip of information fed to them. Order of the day was to break in the capitol premises and bodily remove Gov. Niel D. Tupas by hook or by crook... if by chance, shoot without question anyone who resists.
Their act to terrorize the people inside the capitol building was obviously part of their "patriotic" performance of duty.
Breaking the glass doors with a mallet in full view of the public has never given them a second thought they were committing unlawful act and may put them in hot water.
When one was asked the rationale for destroying the glass doors, he simply replied: mine is to obey and not to reason why. Can you beat that? Adding insult to injury, the misguided fellow felt a sense of pride and honor as if the act was something heroic.
It is the usual reply of a soldier in combat, turning them in the process a bunch of hogwash deserving for a slaughter in a war zone Sulu and Basilan. Sorry you don’t have my sympathy.
Meanwhile, a newly recruited police team fresh from their training was utilized as crowd control force in the capitol ground.
Despite the plea from the Tupas negotiators for a few minutes extension, they started moving towards the main entrance door pushing Provincial Administrator Manuel "Boy" Mejorada and Board member Junjun Tupas forcing them to retreat in a safer ground. Trapped in a thick crowd, Boy and Junjun resisted the act. Realizing they were no match to a hundred combined strength of the young police recruit, the duo eventually let go and looked for other means while desperately waiting for the temporary restraining order (TRO).
At this juncture Mayor Raul "Boboy" Tupas of Barotac Viejo, another son of Niel, hurriedly sought the intervention of Police Regional Office 6 (PRO6) Director Wilfredo Dulay upon the advice of Miag-ao Mayor Gerardo Flores,
Boboy on his lonesome entered the van parked beside the Iloilo Museum where Dulay was comfortably resting inside to ask a few minutes extension for the arrival of the TRO.
In a minute or a little more Boboy came out wearing a sad face. Obviously, his request was turned down without mercy.
Simultaneously, the assault team assigned at the back had managed to reach the third floor -- the specific area of their target where the governor holds office.
Standing in front of the door was Tweety Tupas Balleza, the only daughter of Gov. Tupas showing defiance and all set to die for her father.
Tweety and Junjun found themselves helpless on the floor after they were manhandled by the cops with long firearms aimed towards their direction.
Just when they felt the world has crumbled upon them, a faxed TRO from the Office Ombudsman arrived just on the neck of time while the evil forces approach the office of the governor.
Junjun managed to grab a copy right away, swiftly swung the document in view of the crowd mostly capitol employees and civilian supporters while screaming at the top of his voice: we made it, we made it!
Seeing the document was for real, Gen. Dulay paused for awhile to scrutinize the document before he was totally convinced. In awhile he ordered all the cops tasked to participate in the assault dispersed back to barracks (defined: pigpens) where they belong.
When the evil forces cleared the area, the capitol was totally in disarray. The actual damages to properties may not be that huge in terms of monetary value, but the impact of ordeal it caused to the employees would definitely stay in their memories for a lifetime, if not beyond their graves.
Perhaps, ours is a partial victory yet it is still worth celebrating if only democracy has been restored in the Iloilo Provincial Capitol sans bloody confrontation.
There are personalities worth commending for their efforts to get hold of the TRO and other legal requirements at the height of the capitol assault
Provincial Legal Officer Salvador Cabaluna III, Hector Teodosio, Rene Villa, Eugenio Original, Zafiro "Boy" Lauron, Joenil Alipao and Teopisto "Pet" Milleza, all lawyers par excellence top in my list as my heroes of the hour.
Young and idealistic lawyers Joenar Pueblo and Ethel Demaisip, had contributed a lot by burning their candles at night preparing all the necessary legal documents for rebuttal.
Of course, we also have other legal luminary veterans in our side, the likes, of Board Member Rodolfo "Boy" Cabado and Eduardo Jalbuna whose integrity are beyond reproach.
All have one common goal: justice for the oppressed, and death for the tyrants.
Gov. Niel D. Tupas was severely wounded in the battle, yet he also won the war.
Thank God, they made an icon out of him.