NAPOLCOM strips mayor of power over city police

BACOLOD CITY ,Philippines  — The mayor of a Negros Occidental city was stripped of his police power by the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) for his alleged close association with the New People's Army (NPA) and for the reported extra-judicial killings in his city.

The NAPOLCOM, headed by DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo, in a resolution dated July 15 suspended the administrative control and operational supervision of Escalante City Mayor Melecio Yap over the Escalante Police station.

Senior Supt. Allan Guisihan, Negros Occidental provincial police director, however said Friday night the NAPOLCOM order has not been carried out yet, pending the implementing guidelines from Police Regional Office-6 director, Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol.

In a press conference in this city last Saturday, Yap denied the claims in the NAPOLCOM resolution. He said this may well be the first time in the country that a mayor is stripped of his police powers, and he lamented that he was not given any opportunity to defend his side before the issuance of the order.

Guisihan said he did not know what the basis for the allegations against Yap was, as the provincial police did not supply the data the NAPOLCOM possessed.

The NAPOLCOM resolution, signed by Robredo and its five commissioners, said it was convinced that "there is cause to believe that Mayor Melecio Yap may have been and may still be involved in the activities he has been accused of," the resolution said.

On March 15, San Carlos City Bishop Jose Advincula wrote President Benigno Aquino III regarding "the unbroken pattern of extra-judicial - and largely unsolved - killings" in Escalante City. The president in turn asked the DILG and the PNP to investigate the matter, said the resolution.

A report from Querol to Robredo allegedly stated that Yap had a close association with the local communist group and a tactical alliance with the Northern Negros Alliance of Human Rights Advocates.

NAPOLCOM-6 director Honey Paredes was also asked to submit an independent report and recommendation on the matter. Its officials then consulted with Negros Occidental Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. on the withdrawal of the deputation of Yap, and it was said that the governor did not object and left instead the decision to the commission.

NAPOLCOM also informed Rep. Julio Ledesma (Neg. Occ., 1st District) that the Office of the President had directed the PNP and Napolcom to conduct an investigation on the complaints of extra-judicial killings in Escalante City and other activities of Yap, the resolution said. Ledesma however failed to respond.

Yap, in a statement, said: "On my alleged close association and tactical alliance with the Northern Negros Alliance of Human Rights Advocates and Bernardino Patigas, a known human rights supporter, I personally don't see any reason why I should limit myself from extending services of the government to our constituents who promote social reforms and authentic justice. We have to understand that the organizations where they belong are legitimate cause-oriented groups and should not be unfairly tagged as communist groups," he said.

The mayor also complained that Escalante has been singled out in the report, and his alleged involvement was not even proven in the proper forum yet. "To date, I have not been charged criminally or administratively in any forum regarding alleged illegal activities," he said.

He also questions where NAPOLCOM verified its reports, and that it has no substantial evidence and proof to support its claim. "If there are, then I challenge you to take the necessary and the most appropriate action so I may have the chance to defend myself in the proper court," he said.

"The inquiry (of the NAPOLCOM) was conducted unilaterally, without giving me a chance to present my side, thus violating my fundamental right as person. I became a victim of human rights violation," Yap said.

Yap said he was denied due process and he will file criminal and administrative charges against all persons responsible for the NAPOLCOM order.