Police official on Capitol assault: We're just following orders
Supt. Cornelio Defensor (right) with Senior Supt.
Wesley Barayuga, ICPO director, just before the
raid on the Capitol last January 17, 2007.
Police Superintendent Cornelio T. Defensor, one of the police officials who made an important role in the negotiations with the camp of Governor Niel Tupas at the height of the assault on the Capitol, finally broke his silence claiming that they merely followed orders from above.
"It was an order from higher authority and could not help but to follow lest they will be charged dereliction of duty," Defensor said amid criticisms from various sectors assailing the forceful manner in which the police tried to implement the dismissal of Gov. Tupas.
"My men have not committed a single fault contrary to what the public perceives and the pronouncement of some members of the media," said Defensor in an exclusive interview with this writer in his office at Camp Delgado, Iloilo City.
Defensor poured out his sentiments and failed to hide his discontentment with the way the story of the incident was treated by the media as he and his men were portrayed like villains instead of protectors.
On the breaking of the glass doors at the Capitol's back entrance, Defensor insisted it "was the right thing to do as a lot of employees were trapped inside."
"Remember what happened to the Ultra stampede," he narrated. "We want to avoid the same incident, so it was just proper to break the doors to give way to those trapped inside. We found out all the doors were locked to prevent entry from the outside. What if someone fires a shot" asked Defensor. "There must be ways for people to escape," he added.
On the reported pointing of firearms to unarmed civilians Defensor said it was a normal reaction for a cop. "Cops are trained this way. They have to be alert to defend themselves at all times. His action was just normal since the body concerned hastily stood up and they were on a hostile environment. If they appear imposing simply because they have to, otherwise, no one would respect them," explained Defensor.
Defensor added "as I said the recent incident in the capitol is beyond our control. We should not be condemned by the public," said Defensor.
"Kaluluoy lang mga pulis kay naipit sila sa tunga-tunga (I pity our policemen as they are in quandary whom to follow)," said Defensor.
"On the other hand, the recent incident serves as an eye-opener for both parties involved. It is a government agency telling us to implement the order against another government agency (Office of the Governor) as the recipient," lamented Defensor. "We are left with no choice but to execute the order no matter how painful it may appear. You see--it is damned if you do, damned if you don't. Both parties are to blame," he further added.