Letter-Appeal Reiterating Call for Speedy and Full Investigation on the Arrest and Release
of Gunban Violators in Bunot, Paracelis; Condemning Acts of Terrorism;
and Calling for Rule of Law to Prevail in Mountain Province
of Gunban Violators in Bunot, Paracelis; Condemning Acts of Terrorism;
and Calling for Rule of Law to Prevail in Mountain Province
PDG Jesus Versoza
Chief
Philippine National Police
Republic of the Philippines
Hon. General Delfin Bangit
Chief of Staff
Armed Forces of the Philippines
Hon. Jose A. Melo
Chairman
Commission on Elections
Atty Nestor Mantaring
Director
National Bureau of Investigation
Mr. Jude Bago
Secretary General
Cordillera Human Rights Alliance
SIRS;
The undersigned are all residents of Mountain Province in their respective capacities either as private individuals or representatives of an organization.
Respectfully reiterating call of previous complaints and/or requests asking your immediate attention to conduct an impartial and full investigation, and speedy action on the following:
1. The incident which transpired on May 11, 2010 resulting to the confiscation of several high powered firearms from three vehicles, and the supposed arrest of the persons involved therein;
2. The events surrounding the direct and/or indirect involvement of congressional candidate Maximo Dalog for violation of provisions of the Election Law against terrorism, violation on his oath of Candidacy to obey all laws of the Philippine Republic, and disregard of the Mountain Province candidates’ Covenant on Peaceful and Clean Elections which Governor Maximo Dalog personally signed.
We, registered voters and concerned persons from Mountain Province are especially appalled at warlordism and terrorism manifested during the height of the May 2010 elections in our Mountain Province. Refer to linked pages of Attached are copies of local papers-Northern Philippine Times, Zigzag Weekly and Northern Dispatch.
It is unfortunate now for Mountain Province to experience this turmoil during the very recent May 2010 election employed by one of the candidates for the congressional position. Mountain Province is now likened to the province of Abra and Maguindanao that during the very recent elections, guns and goons are being utilized.
We especially take note of the confiscation of firearms loaded in three vehicles at sitio Ampekla, barangay Bunot, Paracelis involving eight persons including the son of Governor Maximo Dalog and the nephews of the Governor’s wife, Cecilia Yawan Dalog. We especially take note of the presence of the Governor’s son, Clarence Dalog, as claimed by witnesses to be one of the occupants of one of the confiscated cars and the one who tried to take the Hi-Lux vehicle where some of the confiscated firearms were confiscated.
That on May 11, 2010, three persons – Fangkingan Lomong-oy, Mariano Yawan, and Florizel Mi-ing, all residents from Bontoc, Mountain Province and related by affinity to Gov. Maximo Dalog – were apprehended by elements of Charlie company of 54rth IB of the Philippine Army led by Lt Alvin Dagondon, at sitio Ampecla of barangay Bunot of the vote rich town of Paracelis. Said persons were driving three convoy cars carrying 6 firearms and live ammunitions when they were apprehended.
Surprisingly, the incident report does not include all eight occupants in the same cars including a son of the governor despite controllable situations for all occupants to be arrested and included in the police report. This was made more revealing when Police Inspector Dexter Mariano Paredes was finally named in the charges filed by the Philippine Army at the Provincial Fiscal’s office.
A confiscated Pistol Cal 9MM is registered to Dexter Mariano Paredes as shown in a certification from the Firearms and Explosives Division of the National Police Commission. Refer to ANNEX 8. He was not able to show any Certification of Exception from the Commission on Election from COMELEC Gun Ban.
Another gun confiscated, a high powered 556 Colt, is registered to Gov. Maximo B. Dalog as shown in a certification by the Firearms and Explosives Division of the National Police Commission.The other firearms are yet to be established as to their ownership and how these came into the possession of those arrested.
On said incident, 6 firearms were confiscated- one Bushmaster caliber 223-5.56 loaded with ammunition confiscated from a Mitsubishi Strada vehicle reportedly owned by Leopold Dalog and driven by Mi-ing; 9mm pistol Puerto Beretta, Model 92 FS, one Armscor shotgun rifle, and baby Armalite rifle all with ammunition found in a Toyota Hilux reportedly owned by Eduard Chaokas and driven by Fangkingan; and KG9 Springfield Super 38 loaded with ammunition in a Pajero owned and driven by Yawan.
Also, we especially take note of the release of the three persons arrested due to the refusal of the arresting officers from the Philippine Army not to sign affidavits of arrest which led PNP- Mountain Province not able to file appropriate charges and eventually led to the release of those arrested.
This glaring disregard of the rule of law cannot be tolerated. It breeds unrest, unpeace, and violence. Nor does Mountain Province allow a culture of guns and goons to persist and be tolerated. The people of Mountain Province known for their peaceful nature and close kinship and community ties cannot allow this province to go into a culture of impunity, violence and warlordism.
We call on the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA) to conduct an investigation the soonest possible time the events surrounding the Bunot arrest.
We especially reiterate the call for a thorough and deeper investigation of why not all occupants of the three confiscated cars were not arrested and named in the police report despite controllable situations. We especially ask why Clarence Dalog, son of Governor Dalog was not included among those arrested and named in the Police report, and not charged despite glaring instances to take note of his presence in one of the apprehended cars, and, finally, to determine why the arresting officers despite being a public officers did not sign affidavits of arrest which eventually resulted to the release of the three arrested. We would like to know why arresting officers of the Philippine Army refused to turn over the confiscated fire arms and stayed in their custody. We also call for an objective investigation as to the ownership of guns and the cars confiscated, the latter no more physically impounded within the vicinity of Bontoc Barracks.
We would also like to know why elements of the PNP and the Philippine Army are, by their actions, trying to prevent linking Governor and elected congressman Maximo Dalog by not arresting Clarence Dalog and naming him in the police report, and derailing the rule of law by not filing the necessary affidavits of arrest which led to the eventual release of the suspects.
In the interest of transparency, truth, peace and order, and the rule of law to prevail, it is our fervent prayer that you conduct the appropriate action and direct respective response to charges already filed at the Provincial Prosecutor’s office elevated to the Regional State Prosecutor and other petitions which findings of investigation may have bearing to ensure that no one is above the law.
Sincerely,
JULIET PALICOS
Sabangan, Mountain Province
BRENDA D.FUCHAY
Sagada, Mountain Province
AGNES ACOFO
Bontoc, Mountain Province
CHRISTOPHER SALLY
Bauko, Mountain Province
ERNESTO GUNDAY
Paracelis, Mountain Province
LORETA YOCOGAN
Representative
Cordillera Peoples Alliance- Mountain Province
EMERITA M. DAZON
KATRIBU- Mountain Province
Copy furnished:
1. COMELEC Regional Director - CAR
2. COMELEC Mountain Province Chairman
3. Police Superintendent Villamor Bumanglag, PNP Regional Director -CAR
4. Police Superintendent Fortunato Albas, PNP Mountain Province Director
5. NBI Director-CAR
6. Regional State Prosecutor Atty Cesar Nonnatus Rojas
In support to the above letter-appeal we sign our names herein:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/bunotparacelisgunban/
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