By GINA DIZON
www.nordis.net

BONTOC, Mountain Province — In an undated petition letter citizens here raised questions on the process by which a Philippine National Police -Philippine Army (PNP-PA) random inspection and arrest was conducted and documented in a case involving three vehicles, six high powered arms and local personalities from influential families here.

On the strength of a violation of the Comelec’s gun ban law in Sitio Ampekla, Barangay Bunot in Paracelis on May 11 this year, local observers say that some confiscation and arrests could have been made as the violators were caught red-handed.

Nevertheless the petition letter sought, “In the interest of transparency, truth, peace and order, and the rule of law to prevail, it is our fervent prayer that you (officials addressed) 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.”

Reports reveal that the preliminary investigation on the gun ban case filed at the Provincial Fiscal’s office was eventually handed to Baguio Prosecutor Elmer Sagsago following assignment by the Regional State Prosecutor.

It shall be recalled that Bontoc residents Fangkingan Hewan, Mariano Yawan, and Floricel Miing were arrested at Sitio Ampekla, Barangay Bunot in Paracelis for violating Comelec’s gunban law when they were caught carrying six high powered firearms loaded in three cars registered to them or members of their family on May 11 this year.

The said appeal included signatories as individuals or as organizations including the Mountain Province Chapter of Katribu partylist and Cordillera Peoples Alliance (CPA).

They called for an investigation of the events surrounding the direct and/or indirect involvement of congressman–elect Maximo Dalog in the violation of provisions of the Election Law against terrorism, violation of his oath of candidacy to obey all laws of the Philippine Republic, and disregard of the candidates’ covenant on peaceful and clean elections which Dalog personally signed.

Calling for rule of law to prevail in Mountain Province, said letter was forwarded to the offices of Chairman Jose Melo of the Commission on Elections (Comelec), Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Jesus Versoza, Lt Gen.Nestor Ochoa of the Philippine Army, Director Nestor Mantaring of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Cordillera Human Rights Alliance (CHRA).

It appealled for an investigation on the arrest and release of those involved in the incident in Bunot wherein army personnel reportedly confiscated Bushmaster Cal. 5.56 reportedly owned by Dalog and a 92 FS Pietro Beretta Cal. 9mm accordingly issued to police Insp. Dexter Mariano Paredes.

Signatories also called for an investigation on why all occupants of the three confiscated cars were not arrested and named in the Paracelis police report.

Signatories wanted to know why the arresting officers did not  sign affidavits of arrest which eventually resulted to the release of the three individuals, and, why they refused to turn over the confiscated firearms to the PNP.

The said arresting officer 2Lt Alvin Dagondon of the 54th IB of the Philippine Army filed charges of violation of the Election Code and PD 1866 on illegal possession of firearms against Fangkingan, Yawan, and Miing and police Insp. Dexter Mariano Paredes on May 20.
The letter-appeal reiterated a resolution signed by around 6,000 residents from the ten municipalities of this province urging the PNP, AFP, NBI and concerned agencies to “stop a whitewash” and conduct a speedy and full blown investigation on said case. # nordis.net