Mayors' to Task Force Escalante: Be fair to Yap

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines – The president of the Negros Occidental Association of Chief Executives (ACE) and the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) –Negros Occidental chapter is appealing to the members of Task Force Escalante to be fair with Mayor Melecio Yap Jr. in investigating the case.

E.B. Magalona town Mayor David Albert Lacson, who chairs both organizations of Negros mayors, said: “Be fair to Mayor Yap.”

Lacson said the Negros ACE and LMP are behind Yap, who is now in the center of controversies after he was stripped of police control by the Napolcom last August, and when the Police Regional Office 6 relieved 22 policemen assigned to Escalante without approval from the city officials. 

“We also welcome (the investigation). It’s one way to prove a person’s innocence, if Mayor Yap is not guilty of anything at all,” Lacson told reporters after meeting with several town and city mayors who came to the fiesta celebration of Murcia town yesterday.

Lacson said the Negros ACE and LMP-Negros will hold a meeting with Yap this Monday, afterwards they will pass a resolution stating their formal position on Yap’s case.            

“We’re finalizing a resolution regarding the creation of Task Force Escalante. We will release it to the media by Tuesday or Wednesday next week,” he said.

Task Force Escalante was formed upon orders of President Aquino to investigate the reported extra-legal killings and other illegal activities in that city.

It is formed by one representative each from the DILG, the DOJ, the Commission on Human Rights, the city government of Escalante, and a civic organization. (FREEMAN)