GOVERNOR'S RESPONSE TO OIC-PD'S PRESS STATEMENT

On January 7, 2009, PSSupt. Keith Ernald Singian held a press conference at the Provincial Police Office, Capitol Compound, City of San Fernando (P). His statements however are completely different to what transpired last Monday, January 5, 2009.

In all of my statements and of Atty. Dabu, we did not say that the doors leading to our respective offices were forcibly beaten, pounded, banged and kicked open. What I have said was that the door leading to my office was kicked open (twice) and it was indeed opened. After retreating, the rallyists tried to open the door leading to the office of Atty. Dabu but were not able to do so as it was locked.

The media people are witnesses to these incidents as well as the commotion and disturbance rallyists have committed as they were present and in fact took photographs and video coverage thereof, which the police officers were able to view in the afternoon of that day.

Media accounts also show that there were no civilian security escorting the rallyists towards my office. And if it was merely dialogue, why would the rallyists barged into the capitol building with a megaphone shouting and challenging me.

All these together with the mauling of my two nephews were brushed aside by Col. Singian in declaring that there was no breach of peace and order, no violence noted or any untoward incident. He even put the blame on me for not having a dialogue with the rallyists and for not releasing to the former checkers the benefits they are asking. He likewise held my nephews responsible for their being beaten as they allegedly provoked the rallyists.

Is this the kind of police officers we have? How can a police senior superintendent blatantly lie on something which happened a few feet away from the media people and witnessed by several persons? If he can lie in such a nonchalant manner, he has no right to remain in his current office.