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 during a "violent assault" on the Iloilo provincial capitol on Wednesday, Senator Franklin Drilon, Liberal Party president, said yesterday.

Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon called the police action at the Iloilo Capitol "overkill", while Msgr. Victorino Rivas, vicar general of the Diocese of Bacolod, said it made the administration look like a "high-handed bully." Both officials said the situation could have been handled in a more diplomatic manner.

Senior Supt. Pedro Merced, 6th Regional Mobile Group commander, yesterday told the DAILY STAR his 65-man team from Negros entered the Iloilo Capitol Wednesday afternoon in "close quarter battle formation" because of information that persons inside the building were heavily armed.

He said they were informed that people in the building were armed with M-16 rifles, machine pistols and shotguns, so they took a close quarter battle formation for any unexpected confrontations.

"But when we entered, we were surprised that there were no armed men," he said.

NO MAN HANDLING, VIOLATIONS

Merced said his men did not commit any human rights violations, manhandle or harm anybody, they were just enforcing an order to clear and secure the area, and arrest Gov. Nuel Tupas if he refused to leave the building.

Their weapons being pointed in a forward position was part of the close quarter battle formation, he said.

It was not his men who caused injury to Provincial Administrator Manuel Mejorada, he was told it was caused by the truncheon of a Crowd Dispersal Management Team member, Merced said.

He said they were directed to go to Iloilo but he did not know what their mission was until they were briefed on arrival.

Negotiations were conducted between Chief. Supt. Wilfredo Dulay, Western Visayas police chief, and Tupas and two 30-minute extensions were given before he was ordered to enter the building, Merced said.

"I was the most senior officer in the building and when we were informed that a temporary restraining order on the dismissal of Tupas was issued I had to get clearance from my superior officer, Dulay, on what to do next," Merced added.

DRILON REACTION

Drilon, who is also chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Illegal Drugs, in a press statement, 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 Tupas.

Drilon said television footages showing policemen in full battle gear, armed with high-powered rifles, manhandling unarmed civilians inside the Iloilo Capitol were shown on international TV "giving the impression that the Philippines is under an undeclared state of Martial Law."

ANOTHER BLACK EYE

"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.

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, as well as 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.

POLITICAL BULLYING

"This is just the opening of the political season and if these are already the acts being undertaken at this early stage, you can expect things to even get worse," Abad said. 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 in 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.

Marañon said the handling of the service of the dismissal order on Tupas Wednesday was "overkill" that could have been avoided with dialog.

The stand of the President is for reconciliation and unity but how can this be done if that is the attitude of our public officials, especially the police? he asked.

They should exercise maximum tolerance, he said.

House Minority Floor Leader Francis Escudero also condemned the use of violence in Iloilo.*CPG

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