Rapiz dis-armed in summary hearing over probe on Estancia ‘duel’
Police forces from the Regional Mobile Group (RMG) were called in yesterday to augment security inside the Regional Internal Affairs Service (RIAS) office at Camp Delgado.
This, as a summary hearing was held on the controversial case involving a top police officer and an Iloilo mayor.
Summary Hearing Officer was RIAS lawyer Samson Go with Chief Inspector Leroy Rapiz and retired police General, Estancia Mayor Restituto Mosqueda summoned over the incident.
Rapiz came in uniform and armed with his service firearm. He was immediately dis-armed though by RIAS personnel upon entry into the hearing room. The News Today (TNT) learned that the order came from Go who reprimanded Rapiz for bringing the firearm inside the RIAS hearing room. Posted clearly by the door was the prohibition on bringing any and all firearms unless otherwise authorized by RIAS. Rapiz came to the hearing assisted by counsel, lawyer Tranquilino Gale.
Mosqueda for his part came with well-known Manila-based lawyer Salvador Panelo.
Within minutes that the mayor arrived, sources confirmed to TNT the icy stares that Mosqueda and Panelo got from Chief Inspector Rapiz.
Panelo addressed the ‘incident’ saying Rapiz was apparently in a “stare of war.”
“I am aghast… he was staring viciously at my client,” Panelo told Camp Delgado reporters present..
At the course of the hearing, Panelo manifested his objection over the "staring incident". As such, he had it on record that the hearing officer take judicial notice of the fact that "respondent police officer from the time he entered the hearing room was viciously staring at Mayor Mosqueda"
Rapiz as a matter of precaution was then ordered by Go to stay in the inner room to avert what reportedly appeared to be a "brewing violent altercation".
Gale when interviewed by TNT after the summary hearing raised questions on the jurisdiction of RIAS. Gale maintained that with the Ombudsman complaint filed by his client, RIAS has no business hearing the same case.
Yet he also agreed to comply with the comment sought from Rapiz by the RIAS saying it is through that comment that he will "enlighten" RIAS probers.
Next hearing is set on May 29th.
To recall, Rapiz and Mosqueda engaged into a reported near ‘duel’ in Estancia, Iloilo. Witnesses heard Rapiz challenge the mayor to a gunfight. Rapiz was then serving as personal bodyguard of Fifth District Congressman Neil Tupas Jr.
Cooler heads prevailed though as the town police chief managed to gain control of the situation with members of the Estancia Police called in.