SP probe reopens 'Nazi rule' in N. Iloilo
Yesterday's "Berdugo" probe of the Committee on Public Order and Security revisited anew "Nazi rule" issues hounding controversial cop, Chief Inspector Leroy Rapiz.
With the police chief of Sara Police Office as first resource person, Chief Inspector Sohrab Jolipas faced committee probers. The hearing was led by committee chair, First District Board Member Richard Garin.
"For the record, let it be stated that an earlier conference has been conducted to set up the parameters of this committee hearing and investigation," Garin began while thanking the presence of Jolipas and Sara Vice Mayor Neptali Salcedo Jr.
Former Mayor Neptali Salcedo Sr. was also invited yet failed to attend yesterday's hearing.
Garin then laid down four "incidents in question" which he said will serve as take-off of the investigation. Such he said is aimed by the committee to be validated "in the desire to come up with appropriate recommendations in aid of legislation."
"We want public order and security to reign in Northern Iloilo and throughout the province," Garin stressed.
Succeeding investigation then got Jolipas' disclosure that the major incidents remained to date as "allegations." Such because no formal complaint was ever lodged before Sara Police thus no basis for police action and reaction. Yet for Chief Inspector Jolipas, the reported checkpoints and body search are big 'no-no."
As for justifications that checkpoints were done due to purported unsolved crimes in Sara, Jolipas outrightly disagreed. In fact, he pointed out, records in the Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO) will bail him out.
Jolipas when asked to address the committee also put on record that his presence was done "in good faith" and not to discredit his colleague, Chief Inspector Rapiz.
"I don't want to put him down," he said.
Meantime, Vice Mayor Salcedo Jr. submitted before the committee a sworn statement regarding the 'Rapiz incidents.'
In a two-paged affidavit, the vice-mayor narrated the surrounding events where he said Rapiz uttered in public "arrogant and disrespectful" words.
The Vice Mayor also recounted seeing Rapiz giving out business cards to locals in Sara. When approached and asked about his actions, Rapiz reportedly answered back arrogantly, in a threatening manner and with a loud voice.
"Why should I do it in other towns when I am already here in your town... so I will do whatever I want here!," excerpts of the vice-mayor's recollection of the Rapiz encounter went.
The hearing continues next week with Chief Inspector Rapiz among the invited resource persons.
Present in yesterday's hearing were First District Board Member Mac Napulan, Second District Board Member June Mondejar, Third District Board Member Mar Malones, Fourth District Board Member Shalene Hidalgo, ex-officio Board Members Cecilia Colada and Jeneda Salcedo and Fifth District Board Member Jett Rojas.