ILOILO CITY -- The Commission on Human Rights is investigating Wednesday's armed assault on the Iloilo provincial capitol by policemen enforcing a dismissal order against Gov. Niel Tupas Sr., even as various groups and leaders condemned the attack.

Chris Montaño, manager of the promotion and linkages development division of the CHR in Western Visayas, said they are determining whether the assault force violated the rights of employees and supporters of Tupas and will file the appropriate charges against those found liable.

"Based on the television footages and news reports, we saw that the people were manhandled and forced to lie down by the policemen," Montaño said.

He also noted that members of the Regional Mobile Group had their firearms ready and had their fingers on the trigger "as if they were on a battle ground."

Montaño said many employees and Tupas' supporters also suffered emotional and psychological trauma after the fully-armed policemen forcibly entered the capitol.

"It's a black spot in the history of Iloilo and peace-loving Ilonggos. They did not imagine that they would experience beating from people who are supposed to protect them in a house of governance," said Montaño.

The CHR will set up a desk at the provincial capitol to gather the testimonies of those injured in the assault.

Around 200 policemen stormed the provincial capitol late Wednesday, smashed glass doors and destroyed padlocked iron gates in their attempt to arrest Tupas and seize control of the capitol.

The assault was stopped when the Court of Appeals in Cebu City issued a 60-day temporary restraining order against the enforcement of the dismissal order against Tupas Sr. and provincial board members Domingo Oso and Cecilia Capadosa.

Chief Supt. Wilfredo Dulay, Western Visayas police chief, defended the assault on the capitol, saying they were there to stop "anarchy" because of Tupas' refusal to step down, even if the DILG had already sworn in Vice Gov. Roberto Armada and provincial board member Emmanuel Gallar as governor and vice governor, respectively.

He said the assault force was expecting armed resistance from the capitol especially from provincial jail guards who are under the office of the governor.

"Our men were ordered not to fire back unless fired upon and they followed this order," said Dulay in a telephone interview.

But he said he will conduct an investigation to determine if there were excesses in the operation.

The Iloilo chapter of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines condemned the manhandling of reporters by members of the assault force.

Several reporters were injured and pushed aside despite having identified themselves as journalists, the NUJP said.

Alex Vidal, editor of the community newspaper Daily Informer, said policemen pointed their M-16 rifles at him and fellow editor Johhny Dignadice even when they showed their press cards to them.

"We express disapproval on the conduct of policemen, who, without warning, used forced that spared no one, not even members of the media. What was disturbing was that reporters were wearing press card and carrying cameras and tape recorders that attracted attention and set them apart from other civilians in the building," the NUJP statement added.

Makati Mayor Jejonar Binay, president of the United Opposition, condemned the armed assault, Binay, who flew to Iloilo, expressed support for Tupas citing his own experience last year when he was ordered suspended for graft charges by the Department of Interior and Local Government. In a press conference with Tupas at the Iloilo provincial capitol yesterday, Binay said that the forcible removal of local officials showed a "growing brazenness and utter disregard for the rule of law" by the administration.

He urged local government executives to close ranks and stand firm to preserve local authority and autonomy.

Binay said the order to suspend local officials is being dangled by Malacañang "like the Sword of Damocles" over those identified with opposition. He said this is also being used to pressure even those belonging to the administration that they "better follow Malacañang or suffer the same fate."

Tupas has called for the immediate relief and transfer of policemen involved in the armed assault of the capitol. His lawyers are preparing administrative and criminal charges against the policemen led Dulay.

Tupas' son and Barotac Viejo town mayor Raul Tupas said at least 50 of their supporters and capitol employees were hurt in the melee that followed after the anti-riot policemen pushed back those assembled at the main entrance.

Provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada said they will also demand that the police pay for the damages incurred during the assault, including the broken glass doors and iron gates.*NPB

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