No more checkpoints at the Capitol

CEBU, Philippines - Accused of violating human rights by asking for names and identification cards from the public and taking photos of visitors last week, the police have stopped this practice at the Capitol starting yesterday.

From banning a lot of people from entering the compound in the past week with a police truck barricading at the gate, the police have noticeably loosened security measures at the Provincial Capitol.

Employees and visitors yesterday were no longer required to sign the logbook and present identification card upon entering the premises.  The police also no longer inspected bags and vehicles, a move that surprised embattled governor Gwendolyn Garcia who has been staying in her office for a week already.

Garcia believed somebody might have advised about the bad image brought by the hundreds of policemen deployed and a military truck blocking the gate.

   “I think duna’y mga nakahatag og mas sober nga opinion ug aviso nila,” Garcia said.

Garcia expressed that she is happy that her supporters can now freely enter and sympathize her after one week of being discouraged and intimidated to come.

“Hopefully libre na makapakita sad sa ilang simpatiya ug sentimento kay ato man gyud na kagawasan,” she said.

Lawyer Lito Astillero said that they intend to file injunction based on illegal checkpoints conducted by the police had it been continued.

“I hope they will make it permanent nga wala na,” Astillero said.  Police Regional Office 7 Director Marcelo Garbo said he lessened the number of police and loosened the conduct of inspection on people entering the area as he felt that there’s no more need for these.

“Kasi under the circumstance, we feel that at that point in time (earlier), there’s an eminent danger that would affect the peace and order situation of the area that’s why we opted for strict implementation,” he explained.

The PRO 7 director reiterated that he is not imposing martial law at the Capitol as his orders were part of the procedures.

Garbo also maintained that although they are observing “super maximum tolerance”, he will not tolerate any maltreatment towards the police in line of their duties.

“Lahat po ng mga nagwawalanghiya sa mga pulis, corresponding intelligence operations will be done against him or her,” Garbo said.   Acting Governor Agnes Magpale explained that stringent security was applied during the weekend and holidays because the people have no business at the Capitol.

Magpale said that it was the tactical move of the PNP to require IDs to determine the purpose of visiting Capitol.

Magpale said she called on Garbo the other night to lift the policy when business as usual at the Capitol resumes.Only a few police personnel were seen roaming the Capitol yesterday.

“Naa gihapon, they are also there to safeguard, para sa safety pud sa suspended governor,” Magpale added.

But Garcia hit the tactical move saying that it is not an assurance of being correct but also of committing grievous blunder.

“Ug tactical move sad to ang pagsira sa Sugbo TV, blunder na pud to. They can keep on doing their tactical moves, from our point of view, it’s one blunder after another,” Garcia added. — (FREEMAN)