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

Atty Leila M De Lim

Chairperson

Commission on Human Rights  

Mr. Jude Bago

Secretary General

Cordillera Human Rights Alliance

SIRS,

Respectfully  asking  your  immediate attention to conduct  an impartial  and full investigation,  and speedily  act on  events  surrounding  the  direct and/or indirect involvement of  congressional elect-  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, residents,  and  concerned  persons who  trace our roots from Mountain Province, Philippines  are especially appalled at  warlordism and terrorism manifested during the  height of  the May 2010 elections in our  very own Mountain Province. Please refer to linked news items  of  Northern Philippine Times, Zigzag Weekly and  Northern Dispatch  reporting  this  scenario.

It is unfortunate  now for  our  province to experience  this turmoil  during the very recent May 2010 election  apparently 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.  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.

That on  May 11,  2010,  three   persons – Fangkingan Lomong-oy, Mariano Yawan,  and Florizel Mi-ing,   all residents of  Bontoc, Mountain Province and  related by affinity to 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 the 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 on violation of  the Omnibus Election Code and law on Illegakl Possession of  Firearms (PD 1866) filed by the Philippine Army at the Provincial Fiscal’s office. 

One  firearm confiscated,  Pistol Cal 9 MM is registered to Dexter Mariano Paredes as shown in a certification from  the Firearms and Explosives  Division of the National  Police Commission.

Another  gun confiscated, a high powered  556 Colt, is registered to 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 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  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), the  Commission on Human Rights  (CHR),and the Cordillera  Human  Rights Alliance (CHRA)  to conduct  an investigation the soonest possible time the events surrounding the Bunot arrest.

We especially call for an 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 was not included among those arrested and  named  in the  Police  report,  and not  charged accordingly  despite glaring  instances to take note of  his presence  in one of  the  apprehended  cars, as claimed by witnesses.

We call on the  concerned offices to  probe on why the arresting officers  did not  sign  affidavits of arrest which eventually resulted to the release of the three persons arrested.

We would like to know why  arresting officers of the Philippine Army refused to turn over the confiscated  fire arms and  vehicles to the PNP. We also call for an objective investigation as to the ownership of  guns and the cars confiscated, the latter not physically impounded  in the Bontoc Baracks anymore.

We would also like to know why elements of the PNP and the Philippine Army are, by their actions, trying to prevent linking congressional  candidate Maximo Dalog  by not  arresting  all the occupants including the Governor's son,  who were found in  the confiscated cars  and naming them 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 your  immediate  attention to conduct the necessary investigation and  act on similarly related petitions  to ensure that no one is above the law.

Links