PNoy orders Escalante probe

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines  — President Benigno Aquino III has ordered the creation of a multi-agency task force to investigate the reported incidents of extra-legal killings and other illegal activities in Escalante City, Negros Occidental.

Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, and Human Rights Commission Chairperson Loretta Ann Rosales have issued joint Department Order No. 04-2011 creating Task Force Escalante and constituting it with one representative each from the DILG, the DOJ, the CHR, the city government of Escalante and a civic organization.

Robredo said the president has instructed them to investigate the reported extra-legal killings (ELKs) in Escalante. Aquino “has promised the people of Escalante to address these spate of ELKs in the area” via the creation of the special task force.

Task Force Escalante has been directed to conduct a thorough and full investigation of the incidents of extra-judicial killings in Escalante towards the end of identifying and successfully prosecuting persons involved or responsible, he said.

Robredo has designated DILG-6 regional director Evelyn Trompeta the department’s representative to the task force, in which she will also be the chairperson with the DOJ representative as the vice chairperson.

All concerned DILG operating units, especially the PNP and the NAPOLCOM, will assist Trompeta and the task force “through whatever available and lawful means within their respective mandates,” especially in addressing the alarming rate of ELK incidents in Escalante, as well as proliferation of illegal numbers, illegal drugs, and gun-running activities.

Negros Occidental Provincial Legal Officer Jose Ma. Valencia, who furnished a copy of the orders to the media early this week, said he met with Trompeta and discussed with her about the formation of a panel to initiate the investigation.

Valencia said he also briefed Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. on the conduct of the investigation. “I would suppose that the governor has already informed all the parties involved,” he said.

According to the joint department order, the joint task force will conduct the investigation in 45 days, a period that may be extended. It will also have 15 days from the termination of the investigation to prepare its report for submission to the heads of the three agencies who will collectively submit it to Aquino.

Currently, the officials of Escalante city government and the PNP have yet to settle the rift between them which was further aggravated by the relief of 12 policemen two weeks ago, which according to city officials, was done without due process and justifiable reason.

Mayor Melecio Yap Jr. and the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Escalante said the order of PNP Western Visayas director Cipriano Querol to relieve the 12 policemen was an insult to city government officials.

Of the 53 policemen assigned to the Escalante City Police, 22 were relieved this year. Three of them, who were Yap’s security escorts, were relieved in June, while seven others were relieved in May.

The 22 policemen were reportedly linked to the series of extra-judicial killings in Escalante since 2007 that is being blamed on the administration of Yap. However, majority of the killings in Escalante since 2007 were claimed by the New People’s Army (NPA).

The NAPOLCOM has also ordered to strip Yap of his authority to supervise the local police, citing his alleged links to the NPA, based on the confidential report of Querol and former NAPOLCOM regional director Honey Paredes.

Yap vehemently denied the accusations against him. He said he has not used the police for his own advantage or for any illegal activity.

After the relief order of the 12 policemen, the Escalante Council had passed three resolutions. The first resolution was their withdrawal of support from the PNP, including the office supplies and equipment, and the use of their building which houses the PNP station.

Senior Supt. Allan Guisihan, Negros Occidental Police director, on Monday said seven of the 12 Escalante policemen relieved two weeks ago will be reinstated after they were cleared of any involvement in the ELKs. (FREEMAN)