MANILA, Philippines- Mahaharap sa mas mabigat na parusa ang sinumang elected o appointed na public officials kung patuloy nitong susuwayin ang legal suspension o legal order na ipinataw ng batas, mungkahi ni Senador Francis “Chiz” Escudero.
Kasabay nito, sinabi pa ni Escudero na dapat dagdagan ang parusa kabilang ang pansamantala o permanenteng diskwalipikasyon sa pagtakbo o paghawak ng anumang posisyon sa gobyerno.
Partikular na binanggit ni Escudero ang kaso ni Bonifacio, Occidental Mayor Samson Dumanjug at kanyang asawang si Vice Mayor Evelyn Dumanjug na pinarusahan ng preventive suspension order ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Misamis Occidental sanhi ng alegasyon ng corruption.
Naunang nagsagawa ng public hearing ang Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs hinggil sa sinasabing inhumane, violent at highly irregular acts na ginawa ng Philippine National Police (PNP) laban sa mayor, na tumangging sumuko sa pulisya matapos ipalabas ang kautusan.
“I don’t think anyone asked the suspended mayor, in the beginning of the hearing, why he refused to follow a legal order and vacate his office. If he did, at the outset, there would have been no untoward incident to begin with,” giit ni Escudero.
Sinabi pa ni Escudero na mistulang inamin ni Dumanjug ang kasalanan o pagiging suspek sa krimen o paglabag sa batas nang iginiit niya na hindi siya nabasahan ang Miranda rights.
“Thus, temporary or permanent disqualification to run and hold public office must be added as a penalty against those who refuse to obey an executory legal suspension or removal order against any public official or employee, elected or appointed,” ayon kay Escudero.
Aniya, hindi dapat tumiklop ang PNP sa tungkulin nito na ipatupad ang batas kabilang ang legal na kautusan dahil may politika sa sitwasyon.
“If the Chief of Police of the town had acted immediately, instead of taking the side of the suspended mayor, escalation would have been prevented,” aniya.
Ipinaliwanag pa ni Escudero na hindi rin kailangan na aprubahan ng chief PNP ang pagpapadala ng tauhan upang ipatupad ang naturang kautusan dahil kinilala na mismo ng Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) ang suspension order.
Inihayag naman ni Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, chairman ng public order committee, na kailangan talaga ang panghihimasok ng DILG sa naturang kaso.
Nanawagan din si Dela Rosa na magsagawa ng pagsusuri sa umiiral na operating guidelines at protocols ng PNP sa pagtugon sa insidente.
“Yes, in order to avoid tension and consequently violence, but we can not blame a duly elected official to insist on his rights, duties and responsibilities if he believes he has the legal basis to do so,” giit ni Dela Rosa.
“That is why we need the active role of the DILG in resolving matters like these since it is the appropriate apolitical body,” aniya. Ernie Reyes
