Senate probe sought on Capitol 'assault'
Gov. Niel Tupas Sr. is asking the Senate and the National Police Commission to conduct an investigation into Wednesday's storming of the Capitol by police commandos to arrest him.
Other officials of Iloilo are demanding that the officers and members of the 6th Regional Mobile Group who participated in assaulting the Capitol be transferred out of Region VI.
The Provincial Legal Office is also mulling filing cases against the regional police command, headed by Chief Supt. Wilfredo Dulay Sr., Western Visayas police director, in connection with the operation.
Dulay was reported to have apologized to Tupas for assaulting the Capitol.
Already, the Napolcom and the Commission on Human Rights started investigating yesterday.
However, newly-installed Gov. Roberto Armada defended the police action, saying that it was 'necessary,' and that they will ask the Court of Appeals to lift the temporary restraining order it issued Wednesday afternoon, a few minutes before elite members of the Regional Mobile Group were to force their way into Tupas' office in the 3rd floor to arrest him.
Board Member Niel Tupas Jr. said that Senators Franklin Drilon, Mar Roxas, Rodolfo Biazon, Ma. Pia Cayetano and Francisco Pangilinan assured them that the Senate will look into Wednesday's incident, where scores of people were hurt. The Board Member, his sister Niellete, and some of their supporters were also bodily assaulted by members of the RMG.
Tupas hopes that a Senate committee will conduct the investigation into the incident.
"The worst for us is over. But for them, it's just beginning," the younger Tupas said of Dulay.
"I am asking General Dulay to take responsibility for the criminal acts of his men. You have blood in your hands, General," the Board Member said in a press briefing yesterday.
"I have never seen a blitzkrieg take-over of a government facility as what happened in Iloilo yesterday, not even in the Cory-era, when officers-in-charge were installed nationwide. It was simply an overkill," Iloilo 5th Dist. Rep. Rolex Suplico said in a statement. He also called for the 'immediate transfer' of those who participated in the take over.
"Assign them to Sulu or Basilan," the younger Tupas commented.
Provincial Administrator Manuel Mejorada said they will make Dulay pay for the damages to the Capitol's steel fence and glass door, which were broken as police commandos barged into the building and its premises.
"We will make them pay," he said.
Armada insists that the police operation was required.
"It is the duty of the police to preserve law and order. It was necessary to restore control of a building who was seized by a civilian," Armada's spokesperson, lawyer Ma. Rita Bascos-Sarabia told The News Today Thursday, referring to Tupas. "Had they not stolen money, it would not have happened."
She said that nobody has the right to 'seize and take control' of the Capitol.
"Look at what they did, they turned the Capitol into their residence," Sarabia pointed out.
She said that they will immediately ask the CA to lift the TRO once they receive a true copy of the Order. Sarabia argues that Armada and Gallar have already taken their oath, assumed office and discharged their function. Hence, the act to sought to be restrained by the TRO has already been rendered 'moot and academic.'
They will proceed with the filing of a sedition case against Tupas, Mejorada, Board Members Niel Tupas Jr., Oso and; and Iloilo Rehabilitation Center warden Juan Mabugat for preventing Armada and Gallar from entering the Capitol to discharge their official functions.