Ombudsman starts probe on Capitol assault
Overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro
asks classificatory questions to the resource
persons.
Now, it is the Ombudsman that is conducting an investigation on the manner by which its order was implemented.
A task force from the office of the Ombudsman Visayas led by Overall Deputy Ombudsman Orlando Casimiro yesterday started the inquiry on the January 17, 2007 assault of the Capitol by heavily armed policemen.
First to testify were Provincial Administrator Manuel Mejorada, Nielette Tupas-Balleza, Barotac Viejo Mayor Raul Tupas, and Board Members Niel Tupas Jr., Domingo Oso Jr. and Cecilia Capadosa. They narrated what they had experienced on that fateful day when around 300 policemen stormed the Iloilo Provincial Capitol to forcibly remove Governor Niel Tupas Sr.
They slammed the high handed execution of a team from the Philippine National Police (PNP) under the command of Regional Director Chief Supt. Wilfredo Dulay Sr. of the Ombudsman's dismissal order on the governor.
Board Member Tupas told the Ombudsman investigating panel that Dulay clearly abused his power in attempting to forcibly remove Governor Tupas from office as ordered by his higher-ups.
Dulay and other PNP officials in the region are expected to give their side of the story today as the Ombudsman inquiry continues at the Ombudsman Visayas Regional Office in CAP Building, Gen. Luna St. Iloilo City.
The investigating panel are composed of Casimiro, OIC Deputy Ombudsman Visayas Virginia Palanca-Santiago, Assistant Ombudsman Dina Joy Tenala, Director Marifi Chua, and Graft Investigation and Prosecution Officer Mary Antonette Yadao.
A day before the inquiry the group conducted an ocular inspection of the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.
The task force was created by Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez following the controversial Capitol assault which caught the attention of the entire nation.
The panel asked Board Member Tupas and company to submit affidavits and evidences like photographs to back their claims.
Casimiro said the task force would like to find out if indeed the PNP exercised excessive force in implementing the dismissal order.
Earlier, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) conducted a separate investigation to determine if the police committed human rights violations during the Capitol assault.
CHR Regional Director David Bermudo said the result of their independent investigation would be out in two weeks.
The Senate Committee on Public Order and Illegal Drugs chaired by Senator Franklin Drilon and Senate Committee on Local Government headed by Senator Alfredo Lim also conducted a legislative inquiry on the Capitol incident.
On Wednesday the Senate adopted the report of the said committees censuring Interior and Local Government Secretary Reynaldo Puno and Undersecretary Wencelito Andanar for “prematurely enforcing” the order of the Ombudsman dismissing Tupas and Provincial Board Members Domingo Oso Jr., and Cecilia Capadosa.
The report also censured Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez Sr. "for his unwarranted interference" in the investigation of the graft case against Tupas.
The Senate report also determined that the PNP team that assaulted the Iloilo Provincial Capitol supposedly to implement the dismissal order against Tupas violated its own "rules of engagement" and utilized excessive force against unarmed civilians.
Further, the Senate report also recommended that Chief Supt. Dulay be reassigned and a reshuffle of police officers in the region be effected immediately.
Drilon in a press statement said the committees on public order and local government also asked that the Ombudsman should review its "rules on administrative cases especially those concerning elective officials and also be updated on relevant cases decided by the Supreme Court that decisions, orders of Ombudsman are not immediately executory pending appeal."