Mejorada to SP: 'Leave IRC probe to us'
Official invites extended, official invites declined.
And while at it, some unsolicited advice too for members of the 9th Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) particularly those interested in the affairs of the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (IRC).
"It may well be proper to remind the Committee on Public Order and Security to leave the investigation work to us. For the information of the Committee, the report of P/SSupt. Dela Paz is now the basis of an administrative proceeding to determine possible culpabilities of the provincial guards involved. We will inform that Committee about any action that may result from this proceeding," came the message for the SP.
The bearer of the message? Controversial aide of Governor Niel Tupas Sr., Manuel Mejorada who did so in his supposed capacity as "Provincial Administrator."
Mejorada's letter was addressed to SP Secretary Lorenzo Tubola in reply to the letter-request sent by the SP body to Tupas.
The SP Secretariat facilitated the invites for three IRC executives coursed through the governor. Purpose as stated was for the continuation of the Committee hearing regarding the IRC.
The SP investigation was triggered by the February incident that had an inmate stabbed by two other inmates. Chaired by First District Board Member Richard Garin, a look into the over-all operations of the IRC was then sought if only to arrive at policy reforms here.
Invited as resource persons were Iloilo's top cop, Senior Supt. Ricardo Dela Paz, Iloilo Provincial Police Office director (IPPO) who also serves as IRC warden, Security Officer III Jimmy Almendros and retired Senior Supt. Roberto Nufable.
All three did not show up with Dela Paz telling the SP body "under existing procedures," no go-signal from the governor, no SP attendance.
"….we regret to inform you that the resource persons you have invited to the Committee Hearing of the Committee on Public Order and Security…are not being allowed to appear before it," Mejorada's letter stated. "Your letter mentioned that the committee hearing is investigating, in aid of legislation, an incident that happened last February 27, 2008 at the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center. There is no mention of any pending ordinance being considered by the Committee that would require the inputs of these resource persons."
And there is more.
"The Sanggunian Panlalawigan is a legislative body. It seems to us that the investigation being done is properly a function of the Executive branch of the provincial government," he so stated.
The Committee convened yesterday then adjourned yet made it on record the no-show of the resource persons and the letter of Mejorada.