Alcover hits police for ‘targeting’ Paolo, the Garcias

CEBU, Philippines - Representative Pastor Alcover Jr. of the Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy Partylist questioned why the police singled out Pablo “Paolo” Garcia III when they ordered his firearms license revoked and cancelled.

Alcover was reacting to the report that Paolo, son of suspended Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, already turned over five firearms to the Cebu Provincial Police Office the other day.

“Why the Garcias? Is it because they are hard-line anti-communist? Why not disarm the terrorist NPA, MILF, others,” Alcover said.

Alcover lauded the bravery demonstrated by Governor Garcia in declaring an all-out war against insurgency resulting to the declaration of the Province of Cebu as insurgency-free by the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

This time of election gun ban, Alcover challenged the Aquino administration to disarm the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front.

Alcover still has no security escorts since the start of the campaign of candidates for national positions over a month ago.

Alcover earlier decried the Commission on Elections’ inaction on his request for them to allow two security escorts for every candidate.

“In view of the staunch anti-communist advocacy of the ANAD Partylist and the standing death sentence issued in absentia by the Kangaroo Court of the CPP-NPA-NDF against the undersigned, the ANAD Partylist strongly believes that the threat to the life of the undersigned has become more pronounced due to the upcoming elections,” said Alcover in his letter dated Feb. 22, 2013 to Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr.

Accompanied by his sister, lawyer Christina Codilla-Frasco, Paolo turned over two 9mm pistols, an M14 rifle, an M16 rifle and a shotgun to CPPO director Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador.

Frasco said that they are law-abiding citizens and even if they have yet to receive any notice of the revocation of Paolo’s license, they complied with the law.

Garcia’s license was revoked following his assault of several policemen at the Capitol in December last year when the suspension order of his mother was served.

The Firearms Licensing and Registration Board revoked the licenses based on the recommendation of the Police Regional Office-7.  —(FREEMAN)