Dulay justifies Capitol 'assault'
Chief Supt. Wilfredo Dulay
Chief Supt. Wilfredo Dulay, regional director of Police Regional Office (PRO) 6, defended the forceful attempt by the police to get Governor Niel Tupas out of office last Wednesday saying it was needed under the circumstances.
Some 300 police personnel including troops from the Regional Mobile Group (RMG) were deployed at the Capitol to forcibly take out Tupas and his supporters from the Capitol reportedly upon orders of Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno.
DILG on Monday implemented a dismissal order from the Office of the Ombudsman against Tupas and provincial board members Domingo Oso Jr. and Cecilia Capadosa for grave misconduct and malversation of public funds.
Tupas and the two board members, who are his political allies, however refused to heed the order claiming that they were not afforded due process.
Tupas vowed not to step down although DILG Undersecretary Wencelito Andanar already swore into office Vice Governor Roberto Armada and senior Board Member Emmanuel Gallar, as the new governor and vice governor, respectively.
Dulay said his intelligence officers received reliable information that several armed men including the provincial guards were inside the Capitol to prevent Governor Tupas from being evicted.
He said he ordered the immediate execution of the plan to take control of the Capitol in order not to give time to the governor's men to fortify themselves.
Despite the throng of Tupas supporters forming a human chain the police successfully entered the Capitol building by destroying the glass door at the back.
Elements from the RMG, clad with long firearms, immediately scaled up to the Capitol's third floor where the Office of the Governor was located.
But just before they could break into the governor's office news broke that a restraining order was granted by the Court of Appeals in Cebu City preventing them from further executing the DILG order.
Board Member Niel Tupas Jr., the governor's son, claimed that he and his sister Nielette Tupas-Balleza and brother Nieleto suffered harassment from the ensuing policemen.
Tupas Jr. said they along with other civilian Capitol employees were even pointed with a gun by unidentified RMG men.
The board member said they are gathering evidences so that they could file the necessary administrative and criminal charges against Dulay and his men.
Dulay, on the other hand, maintained that all the personnel that were deployed to execute the order were instructed not to hurt anybody.
The regional director even stood by his order to forcibly take Tupas out of the Governor's Office as during the time Tupas was illegally occupying the Capitol.
Dulay said he is willing to face investigation for the Capitol incident.
The senate reportedly will conduct an inquiry on the armed assault of the Capitol last Wednesday.