Banat Inbox

BALANGA CITY – The Bataan police director vehemently denied yesterday the claim of National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales that the local police had a hand in alleged election irregularities that led to the defeat of his lawyer-daughter in the local congressional race.

Senior Superintendent Odelon Ramoneda said the Bataan police, in fact, granted all the requests of the Gonzales camp, including the dismantling of a checkpoint leading to the headquarters of congressional bet Maria Aurora “Marie” Gonzales at La Katrina Village in Barangay Doña Francisca here.

“Their accusations are far beyond the truth when, in fact, even my own personal security-driver was detailed to Gonzales to ensure (her) safety because of perceived death threats,” he said in a press conference at Camp Tolentino here.

“All of their requests were acted swiftly, hopefully to satisfy their whims and caprices. The Bataan police (did) their best to have fair and honest elections in this historic peninsula,” he added.

Ramoneda said elections in Bataan were generally peaceful, thus there is no basis for suggestions that a “failure of elections” be declared.

“That’s why no violent incident occurred in the province,” he said.

The national security adviser’s younger brother, Andy Gonzales, even requested him to dismantle the checkpoint so as not to antagonize the Cabinet secretary, Ramoneda said.

Violence was aborted shortly before the elections near the La Katrina Village when a van reportedly owned by Marie Gonzales was apprehended at a checkpoint allegedly for carrying filled-up election returns.

A heated confrontation erupted between members of the 303rd Provincial Mobile Group and Gonzales’ group which reportedly refused a police check.

On allegations that local policemen were involved in election fraud, Ramoneda said, “Bakit mayroon ba silang maipapakitang ebidensiya tungkol diyan sa sinasabi nila (Why, do they have evidence to support their accusations against us)?”

Ramoneda said the local police had been very generous in giving in to the requests for police protection from both camps.

“If they have complaints on the conduct of elections in Bataan, they could have filed their complaints with the police or the proper court,” he said.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Calderon nevertheless ordered an investigation in the national security adviser’s charges.

“Every allegation on the involvement of our personnel in partisan politics and other similar violations related to the just concluded elections is being taken seriously and will be thoroughly investigated,” said PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr.

Marie Gonzales lost to re-electionist Rep. Albert Raymond Garcia, eldest son of re-elected Bataan Gov. Enrique Garcia Jr., by a margin of more than 10,000 votes.  – With Cecille Suerte Felipe