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
Chaiperson
Commission on Human Rights

Mr Jude Bago
Secretary General
Cordillera Human Rights Alliance

SIRS/MADAME;

Respectfully asking your immediate attention to conduct an impartial and full blown investigation, and speedily act on events  surrounding the direct and/or indirect involvement of congressional candidate Maximo Dalog for violation of provisions of the Omnibus Election Code  against terrorism, violation of his Oath of Candidacy to obey all laws of the  Philipine Republic, and disregard of the Mountain Province Candidates oath on Peaceful and Clean Elections.

We, registered voters, residents, and concerned persons who trace out roots from Mountain Province, Philippines are especially  appaled 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 in Northern Philippine times, Zigzag Weekly and Northern Dispatch reporting this scenario.) 

It is unfortunate now for our province to experience thus turmoil during the very recent May 2010 elections apparently employed by one of the candidates in the congressional  position, Mountain Province is now likened to the Province of Abra and Maguindanao that during the recent elections, guns and  goons were  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 Clarence Dalog, claimed by witnesses to be one of the occupants of one of the confiscated cars.

That on May 11, 2010-Fangkingan Lomong-oy, Mariano Yawan, and Floricel Miing, all residents of  Bontoc, Mountain Province and related by affinity to Governor Maximo Dalog - were apprehended  by elements of  Charlie Company of the  54rth IB of the Philippine Army led by  Lt Alvin Dagondon, at sitio Ampekla, of barangay Bunot of the  vote-rich  town of Paracelis. Said persons were driving  three convoy cars carrying  six  firearms and live ammunition when they were apprehended.

Surprisingly, the incident report does not include all eight occupants in the same cars including Clarence Dalog, the son of the Governor despite controllable situations for all occupants  to be arrested and included int he police report. This was made more  revealing when Police Inspector Dexter Mariano Tinepac Paredes was named in the the charges on violation of the Omnibus Election Code  and law on Illegal Possession of Firearms (PD1866) filed by the Philippine Army before the Provincial Fiscal.

One firearm confiscated, Pistol Cal 9MM is  issued 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 from the Firearms and Explosives Division of the National Police Commission. The other forearms 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 Bushmater caliber 556 loaded with ammunition confiscated from a Mitsubishi Strada driven by Miing; a 9MM pistol Puerto Beretta, Model 92FS, one Armscor shotgun rifle, and a baby Armalite rifle with ammunition found in a Toyota Hilux driven by Fangkingan; and a KG9 Springfiled Super 38 loaded with ammunition in a Pajero owned and driven by Yawan.

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 natureand 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), Philippine National Police (PNP), Commission on Human Rights (CHR), and the Cordillera Human  Rights Alliance (CHRA) to conduct an investigation the soonest possible time on events surrounding the Bunot arrest.

We especially call for an investigation of why not all the occupants of the three confiscated cars were arrested  and named in the police report  despite  controllable  situations. We especially ask why Clarence Dalog and other four occupants were not charged accordingly despite glaring instances to take note of their presence as claimed by witnesses.

We call on the concerned offices to probe on why the arresting offices  did not sign the  affidavits of arrest which eventually led 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 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 the non arrest of the governor's son and his non-inclusion among those charged before the Fiscal's office.

In the interest of transparency, truth, peace and order, and the rule of law to prevail, it is our fervent prayer that you provide immediate attention for a full blown investigation, and act on similarly related  petitions to ensure that no one is above the law.

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