Tight security back at Capitol

CEBU, Philippines -  Stricter security measure was again imposed at the Capitol yesterday for the long weekend and holiday.

The scene was like what it was a week ago at the start of the standoff following the serving of the six-month suspension order to Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

Policemen were seen not just requiring visitors to log in, people were also asked to sign the logbook as they went out of  the compound. However, no more identification cards were required yesterday.

Most of the visitors coming in were people having transactions at the Cebu CFI Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative whose build ing is located inside the Capitol premises.

Ground commander, Insp. Genesis Aniversario, said that they are maintaining around 60 police personnel since after the Christmas. He said that they reimposed the logbook policy for visitors upon the order of their higher headquarters.

A week ago, the police also required an identification card for anybody entering the Capitol premises while a checkpoint was also established along Escario Street.

The policy was strongly criticized by the camp of Garcia for preventing their supporters from coming in.

Deputy Speaker Pablo Garcia said what the police were doing is a violation of human rights and having around a hundred policemen surrounding Capitol is even more excessive than during the time of Martial Law.

With the accusation, the police have stopped this practice at the Capitol last Wednesday until it was restored yesterday.

Acting Governor Agnes Magpale earlier explained that stringent security was applied during the weekend and holidays because the people have no business at the Capitol.

In a statement yesterday, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas took exception to allegations of Gov. Garcia that there is martial law in Cebu and said that, on the contrary, the Philippine National Police is exercising maximum tolerance despite serious provocations and even assault on its uniformed personnel.

“Notwithstanding the open defiance of a lawful order, we are employing maximum tolerance and patience,” the secretary said. “Please recall that the violation for which the suspended governor is being sanctioned is grave abuse of authority but hanggang ngayon, inaabuso pa rin nila ang kapangyarihan nila.”

The secretary made the reaction amid a continuing police presence at the Capitol grounds in Cebu City where Garcia has been holed up in her office since the six-month suspension order from the Office of the President against her was served by DILG Regional Director Ananias Villacorta last December 19. —JPM (FREEMAN)