Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez yesterday asked why those coming to the defense of Iloilo Gov. Niel Tupas wanted to protect people who had committed graft.

He also charged that some governors and mayors defending Tupas are afraid they might be dismissed, too, and are taking defensive positions. They are of kindred spirit with Tupas because they, too, are facing charges for graft, he told the DAILY STAR. Gonzalez was reacting to the call of Senator Franklin Drilon for him to resign over the police siege on the Iloilo Capitol on Jan. 17 to serve a dismissal order on Tupas for graft charges, and the call of the Western Visayas governors for an investigation of the incident.

"Why should I resign, he is not my boss?" was Gonzalez's answer to Drilon's call.

He said Drilon should have instead called for an investigation into the presence of armed men at the Iloilo Capitol on Jan. 17, that included prisoners and members of the New People's Army.

Tupas has denied the allegations of Gonzalez about the presence of such persons at the Capitol.

Gonzalez asked why people were cheering for Tupas. Do we want grafters to stay in government? he asked.

Tupas has insisted that he was denied due process in the graft case filed against him, which he has called trumped-up.*CPG

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