Raul Sr. dares accusers to prove 'hand' in Capitol assault
Gonzalez
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. challenged his accusers to show proof that he has something to do with the police take over of the Iloilo Provincial Capitol Wednesday last week.
Gonzalez, in a press conference called by the barangay captains allied to him last Saturday, said there is no truth to the claims made by Governor Niel Tupas Sr. and Provincial Administrator Manuel Mejorada that he was behind the governor's dismissal and eventually the attempt to forcefully remove him out of office.
"The problem is that in everything that is happening here I'm always blamed," said Gonzalez.
Gonzalez said the deployment of a throng of policemen to forcefully haul Tupas out of the Capitol was directed by the Department of Interior and Local Government following the strong refusal of Tupas to step down despite the issuance of the dismissal order by the Ombudsman.
Gonzalez said it was aggravated by the information received by the police that there were armed men inside the Capitol composed of ex-convicts and insurgents who were taking directions from Tupas.
Gonzalez added, Tupas caused the gathering of his supporters and the closure of all the entrances around the Capitol which clearly signifies that he has defied the Ombudsman's order.
The justice secretary clarified that he had communicated with Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 regional director Chief Supt. Wilfredo Dulay but only to ask him to put up check points in the Capitol's vicinity as he had received information that truckloads of people from the municipalities keep on arriving at the Capitol at night.
Gonzalez added that the deployment of such number of policemen to implement the order was already a judgment call of the PNP regional director.
"If the police went overboard they should be investigated but we should not condemn the police because they were there only to carry out their duty," said Gonzalez adding "it is unfair for the police on the ground since they were only carrying out orders."
Gonzalez said the armed assault of the Capitol could not have happened if only Tupas and his supporters peacefully obeyed the Ombudsman's order.
Gonzalez earlier assailed Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairperson Purificacion Quisumbing's statement comparing the Capitol assault to that in Iraq.
Gonzalez said such was an overstatement considering that Quisumbing based her assessment merely on what she had seen on television.