Comelec urges police to solve San Dionisio conflict
For now, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) would deem not to put San Dionisio town in their control despite the current political tension in the area.
Instead, provincial election supervisor Atty. Elizabeth Doronila urged the local police force to solve the conflict.
“Para sa akon, it will be an insult sa aton kapulisan kung indi masarangan ini,” Doronila said in a television interview.
She advised the PNP and the San Dionisio election officer to also verify reports that there are politicians and supporters who are carrying firearms, despite the implementation of the total gun ban
In any case, Doronila claimed that what happened in San Dionisio will be taken in the next provincial Joint Security Control Center (JSCC), which she chaired and has members from the PNP and the Philippine Army.
If there are things that police could not seemingly handle, Doronila said that she would discuss this with other JSCC members for them to take measures on the matter.
Meanwhile, the provincial election supervisor cautioned police officers to verify the informant and the information itself before responding to a call.
Doronila’s statement is in reaction to the incident wherein two San Dionisio cops were disarmed by supporters of Vice Mayor Peter Paul Lopez and his brother, Brgy. Captain and mayorable Eugenio Eusebio Lopez.
“Before they send personnel, they should evaluate the situation first before sending men because that might not be enough to dispel the tension,” she added.
Doronila said that it’s disheartening to note that the PNP is present yet they could not solve the problem.
Last Sunday morning, two cops were disarmed after they responded to a call in Brgy. Bagacay, San Dionisio
A concerned citizen informed San Dionisio PNP that Brgy. Captain Eugenio Eusebio “Bebot” Lopez, who was allegedly armed with a handgun, allegedly accosted persons passing through hacienda road.
Eusebio was allegedly asking for a “toll fee” of the people passing through their property.
But some reports claimed that the road, which was sandwiched between the Lopez estate, was declared a barangay road.
After receiving the information, five cops responded to the area to verify the report.
The tension started after the cops asked for documents for the legality of the firearms allegedly carried by the two Lopez brothers.
As they were poked with guns, the Lopezes’ supporters then disarmed the two policemen with a caliber .45 pistol and an M-16 armalite rifle.
The guns were later turned over to Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) director Senior Supt. Renato Gumban.
