‘Dismiss Tarlac police chief’

ANGELES CITY , Philippines   â€“ Supporters of arrested Anakpawis Rep. Fernando Hicap urged Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II to dismiss Tarlac City police officials for allegedly fabricating charges against Hicap and other detained activists, who were released after posting bail yesterday.

The Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), which Hicap chairs, asked the Department of Justice to look into the culpability of Roxas in the arrests if he fails to dismiss the policemen involved.

Pamalakaya spokesman Gerry Corpuz said: “Secretary Roxas should immediately relieve PNP provincial director (Senior Superintendent) Alfredo Corpus, and the rest of the PNP Tarlac police officers and members involved in the illegal arrest and detention of Hicap and the so-called Hacienda Luisita 11.”

Pamalakaya vice chairman Salvador France said his group together with other organizations will file criminal and other appropriate charges against the provincial director and the team that arrested Hicap’s group while on a mission to investigate alleged fraud and irregularities in the distribution of lands to farmworker-beneficiaries in Hacienda Luisita.

“If Secretary Roxas will not do his job, then we might as well include him in the charge sheet for command responsibility, negligence and complicity,” he said.