PNP News Releases 2005

AGLIPAY ACTED DECISELY ON LUISITA CASE

Now that the screaming headlines on the violence that took place at Hacienda Luisita last week have given way to dispassionate and sober ones, perhaps it is time to find out what really happened, if only to dispel the myth that the police and the military mercilessly attacked the striking workers without any provocation whatsoever.

In fact, Philippine National Police Chief, Director General Edgar B. Aglipay, acted swiftly and decisively to pre-empt any attempt by the leftist supporters of the strikers to capitalize on the situation and to stir up public indignation against legitimate government authority.

The Hacienda Luisita confrontation took place on Tuesday. Aglipay was still in the United States on official mission. As soon as he arrived in Manila the very next day, he immediately convened the PNP leadership and ordered the relief of Regional Director of RPO3, CSUPT Quirino de la Torre and Provincial Director of Tarlac, PSSUPT Angel Sunglao, to preclude the possibility that they might interfere in the official PNP investigation.

Aglipay also directed the formation of an Investigation Committee headed by Police Deputy Director General Reynaldo V Velasco to ensure an impartial, credible and fair investigation of the incident.

Apart from this, Aglipay invited the National Bureau of Investigation and the Commission on Human Rights to conduct a parallel probe of the incident to dispel any suspicion of a whitewash by the police.

Recently, however, Aglipay, along with Labor Secretary Pat Sto. Tomas, Rep. Noynoy Aquino, Peping Cojuangco, Chief Superintendent Quirino de la Torre, General Romeo Dominguez of the Armed Forces' Northern Luzon Command, and Colonel Ricardo Visaya of the Army's 69th Infantry Battalion have been charged before the Ombudsman with multiple murder, grave abuse of authority and grave misconduct.

The charges were filed by a certain Crisanta Ocampo, who claims to be a supporter of the striking workers but apparently was not even there when the incident happened and therefore did not have first-hand knowledge of the facts of the case that could stand in court.

Initial results of the PNP investigation revealed that nine of the 36 PNP personnel who composed the PRO-3 crowd management contingent tested positive in paraffin tests.

Similarly, three of the seven fatalities who were part of the unruly mob were found positive for gunpowder residue, indicating the possibility that they may have fired guns.

During mopping-up operations, police recovered an M16 rifle, a cal.30 US Carbine, a cal.38 revolver, some unexploded Molotov bombs, slingshots, darts, knives, and bolos at the scene.

A V150 armored vehicle that backed up the peacekeeping personnel sustained a total of 45 pockmarks in its armor, ten of which were confirmed by the Crime Laboratory as caused by gunfire.

Incumbent officials of the Central Azucarera de Tarlac (CATLU) and Hacienda Luisita Labor Unions earlier confirmed the presence of some unknown individuals at the picket area. “We never knew who they were and where they came from,” said Jess Fino, the CATLU Chairman of the Board.

This angle, along with the recovery of high-powered firearms and bombs at the scene, is being looked into by Task Force Luisita to establish the involvement of the local communist movement in the incident.

PNP Chief Aglipay has declared that he is prepared to face his accuser before the Ombudsman and to answer the charges filed against him. “As a police officer I am duty bound to squarely face all these accusations,” Aglipay said.