President Aquino urged: Investigate gunban case

By Gina Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- A call for an “honest to goodness” investigation on the gunban incident which happened in Paracelis town during the May 11 elections, was forwarded to President Benigno Aquino by concerned citizen Salvador Liked.

This, while resolution from the Department of Justice is awaited from the interposed appeal forwarded by lawyer Lauro Gacayan for the accused Domingo Hewan@ Domingo Fangkingan, Mario Yawan@ Norman Fonite, Floricel Mi-ing and police Insp. Dexter Paredes.

In his letter to Aquino, Liked asked why there was no effort from the Philippine Army and the Philippine National Police to establish identities of other suspects in three cars apprehended in the May 11 incident based on affidavits of witnesses and arresting elements of the Philippine Army and other John Does,

Said case which is now in the jurisdiction of the Regional Trial Court of Bontoc, was filed in the Prosecutor’s office in Bontoc by 2Lt Alvin Dagondon of the Philippine Army then forwarded to the office of the Regional State Prosecutor Ceasar Roxas following protest on the inhibition of Bontoc prosecutor Golda Bannawi. Said case was then assigned to Baguio Prosecutor Elmer Sagsago then assigned to Prosecutor Elizabeth Bringas of Vigan Ilocos Sur following the inhibition of prosecutor Sagsago on said case.

Bringas in her resolution indicted the three drivers Domingo Hewan@ Domingo Fangkingan, Mario Yawan@ Norma Fonite, Floricel Miing and P/C Inspector Dexter Paredes as to violation of the Comelec gun ban and illegal possession firearms.

The three accused drivers were apprehended in Bunot Paracelis having in their possession six guns including that of a Bush Master Assault Rifle registered in the name of Maximo Dalog.

Liked questioned the resolution of Bringas why other suspects including Clarence Dalog, son of Mountain Province congressman Maximo Dalog was not included in Bringas’ indictment despite affidavits of witnesses.

Emphasizing Aquino’s calls for “kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap,” Liked asked where the guns, vehicles and the suspects are now.

Said letter was forwarded to the Department of Justice, Department of Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines. National Police Commission and other offices.