Dismissal Without Trial
Iloilo Governor Niel Tupas, Sr. devoted his State of the Province Address (SOPA) to lambaste officials who carried out what he called "political terrorism" against his administration. Tupas delivered his SOPA in the jampacked Iloilo Sangguniang Panlalawigan Session Hall, Iloilo City on January 23.
Gov. Tupas, filled with emotion, in his speech demanded for the resignation of Sec. Raul Gonzales, Sr. – Department of Justice; Sec. Ronaldo Puno – Department of Interior and Local Government, and Chief Supt. Wilfredo Dulay, PNP Regional Director, Region 6.
"The immediate resignation of Sec. Gonzales, Sec. Puno and Chief Supt. Dulay and his men is the most honorable thing for them to do and allow the healing process to begin", stressed Tupas. Moreover, Gov. Tupas also requested PNP Director General Oscar Calderon to relieve Dulay and top officers of the Regional Mobile Group who were involved in the Iloilo Capitol take over on January 17.
Probably, those officials who Gov. Tupas demanded to resign were out of their normal minds. Experiences show, the police had been rationale in their treatment with hostage takers and those out of their minds, people who climbed roof tops and lamp posts and told people below "they will commit suicide". The police negotiated with them.
Why did the DILG and DOJ secretaries attempted to implement the dismissal order with perpetual disqualification from holding government offices on Governor Tupas? Gov. Tupas is accused of a flimsy cause involving P85,000 which was used for the training of some public officials. Tupas believed what happened to him was a punishment in the desire to punish political enemies of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo with the used of techniques perfected by the Japanese Kempetai, Gestapo and KGB.
On the other hand, the Provincial Governors of Region VI (Western Visayas) most strongly express and manifest support to Gov. Tupas. They expressed they were greatly disturbed and alarmed of the enforcement of the dismissal order that did not give him the opportunity and right to seek remedies and relief granted him by the Constitution and laws.
The manifesto was signed by Gov. Vicente B. Bermejo – Capiz, Joseph G. Marañon – Negros Occidental; Carlito S. Marquez – Aklan; Joaquin Carlos A. Nava – Guimaras and Salvacion Z. Perez – Antique.
But can the Ombudsman which is created to serve as the prosecuting office of those government officials and employees charged with grab dismiss that official or employee? The Ombudsman if it finds out there is high probable cause will file the case with the Sandiganbayan. The Ombudsman serves as prosecutor, the Sandiganbayan serves as the judge.
In the Tupas Case, Ombudsman acted as prosecutor and judge at the same time. If the Tupas case is political terrorism, then the lawyers at Ombudsman has allowed themselves to be used by people in the upper level to persecute political enemies and Gov. Tupas and two members of the Iloilo Sangguniang Panlalawigan were unwilling victims.
The Iloilo Capital incident happened because of the greed for power. Are you power hungry? Power like pretty woman fades. Why forcibly grab power? Secure power by honest means.
The recent incident in Iloilo City is a minus factor to the presidency of Ms. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. This will be felt soon. /MP mailto:madyaas_pen@yahoo.com
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