Pete Merced and George W. Bush

Eyebrows will surely be raised, not only in Bacolod, but in the province of Negros Occidental when residents hear that the siege on the Iloilo Capitol was headed by former city police chief, Pete Merced. I really never connected his name to that incident even when it was reported that Regional Mobile Group men were the ones who had stormed the building to drag Governor Niel Tupas out. But Pete himself confirmed to the DAILY STAR yesterday that he was the one leading the troops.

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Asked about the manner in which his men had conducted the operation, Merced explained that they were adopting what he called "close quarter battle formation". Why "battle"? This was because they had been informed that the people guarding the Iloilo governor and trying to keep out agents who would serve the order of the Ombudsman, were heavily armed and ready to fight them. So that was why they smashed the glass doors, hammered at the locks and rushed into the building, guns cocked and ready to do battle.

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The irony was that nobody was armed inside the building, and nobody tried to fight back. As vividly shown on television, the occupants looked cowed and pitiful, especially when they were pushed to the ground, yanked this way and that, and made to face gun muzzles with the wielders' hands on the triggers. Despite the full coverage, not a single firearm on the people inside the capital could be seen, no resistance met, only terrified-looking mortals cowering in fear. Oh yes, I saw a gutsy woman trying to confront the gunwielders, but she was pulled back by some men already on the floor.

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In this incident, it could be said that Pete Merced has found himself in a spot like the one U.S. President Bush did after his prolonged siege on Iraq. Because of reports that Saddam Hussein had stashed away tons of weapons for mass destruction, Bush, and the American Congress, decided that a good offense is the best defense, and launched into war with that country, only to find that the WMD reports were just a bum steer. Like Bush, Pete Merced listened to "reports" of high-powered guns and other weapons and resistance from the capitol, hence the "close quarter battle formation". And who is to answer for that now?

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Ironically, two of the high government officials featured in the Iloilo imbroglio are also from Iloilo. One Justice Secretary Raul Gonzales, who has been repeatedly denying that he has anything to do with what had happened to Tupas. On the other hand, Tupas has reportedly accused Gonzalez of wanting to be the king, not only of Iloilo City, but also of the province. The other Ilonggo is former Senate President Frank Drilon who has expressed dismay at the very negative image given to the country by the assault on the capitol, that had been shown on international TV. Tupas, by the way, is closely associated with Drilon, who lost favor with Malacañang when he joined the call for the incumbent's resignation.

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There will be more twists and turns to l'affaire Capitol, but one things seems very sure: Already a shoo-in for re-election, this incident will bolster the chances of Governor Tupas more, instead of clearing the way for somebody more palatable to the administration. Instead of being condemned for having been found guilty of irregularities in his governance, he has suddenly become a rallying point for all local government officials who must be asking themselves now: What if it also happens to me?

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As it is, both opposition and administration officials have closed ranks in condemning the ploy of suspending or dismissing elective officials at the 11th hour before the election period, and of the harsh manner used to carry out the orders of the Ombudsman, or of the Local Government department. After all the angst, perhaps, good things may still come out because a better way of implementing court orders and of observing the election law may have to be adopted. As the saying goes, "It's an ill wind that blows no good".*

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