Senate poised to investigate PNP use of 'excessive force'
during Iloilo Capitol siege, says Drilon

The Senate Committee on Public Order and the Committee on Local Governments will investigate the alleged use of "excessive force" by members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) during a violent assault on the Iloilo provincial capitol on Wednesday, Liberal Party (LP) President Franklin Drilon said today.

Drilon, who is also chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Illegal Drugs, said LP leaders in both the Senate and the House of Representatives have condemned the "unnecessary raid and excessive use of force" by the PNP during the siege reportedly on orders of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez and Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno to forcibly remove Iloilo Gov. Neil Tupas Sr., a ranking LP leader, from the provincial capitol.

Drilon, who is currently presiding over a regular meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Human Rights Committee in Geneva, Switzerland, said television footages showing policemen in full battle gear, armed with high-powered rifles, manhandling unarmed civilians inside the Iloilo Capitol were shown in international TV "giving the impression that the Philippines is under an undeclared state of Martial Law."

"The use of excessive force against unarmed civilians, including women, is completely unjustified. This fiasco at the Iloilo Capital has given the Arroyo government another black eye before the international community," Drilon said.

Reports said a resolution calling on the Senate committees on public order and local government was being drafted and will be submitted when Congress resumes sessions on Monday, Jan. 22. The Committee on Public Order and Illegal Drugs is chaired by Drilon while the Committee on Local Governments is chaired by Sen. Alfredo Lim, a former police general.

After surviving what he said was a politically motivated and unjustified assault on the provincial capitol, Tupas said he was eyeing the filing of charges against policemen in the siege try.

Tupas, who survived the crisis after getting a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Court of Appeals at the last minute, accused Gonzalez of being behind the order to assault the capitol.

The Iloilo governor noted that policemen not only destroyed glass windows and panels to enter the capitol, but also aimed high-powered firearms at his children and supporters, including several officials of the provincial capitol.

LP leaders condemned the Ombudsman's suspension and disqualification order against Tupas, saying it was a desperate move on the part of the Arroyo administration particularly with the coming elections.

Former LP President Florencio "Butch" Abad said Malacañang was trying to eliminate some of its strongest opponents like Tupas, who has the support of his province with no serious contenders for the governorship.

"This is just the opening of the political season and if this is already the acts being undertaken at this early stage, you can expect things to even get worse," said Abad. He noted that Tupas withdrew his support for President Arroyo following the "Hello Garci" controversy. He is also a known ally of Drilon.

Drilon condemned what he termed as "unlawful and shameless political bullying" by the Arroyo administration after the DILG ordered the dismissal of a number of opposition local executives, including Tupas.

"This is even worse than martial law. The Arroyo administration is making a mockery of the Constitutional guarantee to due process and a fair and speedy trial," Drilon deplored.

Drilon revealed that several Malacañang "political operators" have been trying to convince Tupas in the past months to abandon Drilon and the LP and join the Arroyo administration. However, the Iloilo governor has remained steadfast with his political convictions, he added.

Drilon said Malacañang was applying "unlawful and shameless political bullying" tactics against Tupas after realizing that the administration-backed Lakas and Kampi political parties could not find a legitimate candidate who can defeat Tupas as Iloilo governor in the coming elections.