Restore Deputization of Zamboanga del Sur Governor Tony Cerilles
"Everybody has to respect the Law and nobody should be above the Law”-Governor Cerilles
House grills NAPOLCOM on alleged injustice against Zamboanga del Sur Governor Antonio Cerilles
The House Committee on Public Order and Safety, chaired by Rep. Romeo Acop (2nd District, Antipolo City), on Tuesday began its inquiry on the alleged injustice made by the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) Head and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Acting Secretary Catalino Cuy against Zamboanga del Sur Governor Antonio Cerilles.
On November 20, 2017, Rep. Aurora Enerio Cerilles (2nd District, Zamboanga del Sur) delivered Privilege Speech No. 301 about Resolution 2017-571 filed by the NAPOLCOM withdrawing the deputization of Governor Cerilles that led to allegations of him committing drug-related crimes.
In his preliminary remarks, Acop bared that the NAPOLCOM served the resolution on the basis of a confidential report furnished by the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) outlining the Governor’s alleged abuse of authority.
However, Rep. Cerilles questioned the NAPOLCOM for concealing the said report. “What is this confidential report? If it has something to do with abuses, bakit naging confidential ito? How can the Governor refute the allegations against him? It was unfair on his part,” she said.
Deputy Majority Leader Rodante Marcoleta (Party-list, SAGIP) echoed the significance of informing the accused on charges filed against him saying, “Doesn’t the Governor deserve to be given his day in court? The due process…Was he given the right to be informed, be involved, and be able to address the kind of charge that was contained in that confidential report?”
Governor Cerilles told the panel that he has already inquired with the NICA and the DILG about said confidential report and even sent them a letter requesting for a copy of such.
Conversely, there was an admission from Cuy that the Governor was not provided with a copy of the report and was deprived of his right to due process.
Moreover, Acop stressed that the NAPOLCOM neglected its own protocols directing the Commission to evaluate and thoroughly validate all complaints or reports that are forwarded to it.
When asked about the steps taken by the NAPOLCOM on the confidential report, Vice Chairman Rogelio Casurao said that the directive given to the Regional Director to validate and verify the report were all made verbally, which received adverse response from the Committee members.
Rep. Makmod Mending Jr. (Party-list, AMIN) also noted that the memorandum circulars issued by the Commission are beyond what the Law has provided.
He explained that the motu proprio bestowed upon the NAPOLCOM was only on their power to restore suspended deputization of local chief executives and not the actual withdrawal of deputization.
Casurao later on expressed his appreciation for the hearing which to him has revealed the inconsistencies in the implementing rules and regulations (IRRs) of the NAPOLCOM. He vowed to work on fine-tuning the provisions of their circulars that are not in accordance with the law.
“We are not questioning your IRRs and your memorandum circulars. What we are bringing out in this forum is the fact that you have not followed the protocols that you have provided…We are not questioning your authority. We are questioning how you used that authority,” Acop clarified.
At the latter part of the hearing, representatives from the, Philippine National Police (PNP) and NICA, among others, claimed that they have never received any complaints against Governor Cerilles accusing him of any form of offense.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director Jigger Montallana also asserted that the Governor was never a part of the “narco-politicians" list.
In an interview, Governor Cerilles also showed gratitude to the House for addressing this problem of NAPOLCOM issuing circulars that are beyond the intentions of the law.
The Committee was scheduled to hold an executive session for the concerned agency to be able to present the confidential report used against Governor Cerilles. But during the meeting there were no confidential reports presented.
Sign PetitionSign PetitionHouse grills NAPOLCOM on alleged injustice against Zamboanga del Sur Governor Antonio Cerilles
The House Committee on Public Order and Safety, chaired by Rep. Romeo Acop (2nd District, Antipolo City), on Tuesday began its inquiry on the alleged injustice made by the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) Head and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Acting Secretary Catalino Cuy against Zamboanga del Sur Governor Antonio Cerilles.
On November 20, 2017, Rep. Aurora Enerio Cerilles (2nd District, Zamboanga del Sur) delivered Privilege Speech No. 301 about Resolution 2017-571 filed by the NAPOLCOM withdrawing the deputization of Governor Cerilles that led to allegations of him committing drug-related crimes.
In his preliminary remarks, Acop bared that the NAPOLCOM served the resolution on the basis of a confidential report furnished by the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) outlining the Governor’s alleged abuse of authority.
However, Rep. Cerilles questioned the NAPOLCOM for concealing the said report. “What is this confidential report? If it has something to do with abuses, bakit naging confidential ito? How can the Governor refute the allegations against him? It was unfair on his part,” she said.
Deputy Majority Leader Rodante Marcoleta (Party-list, SAGIP) echoed the significance of informing the accused on charges filed against him saying, “Doesn’t the Governor deserve to be given his day in court? The due process…Was he given the right to be informed, be involved, and be able to address the kind of charge that was contained in that confidential report?”
Governor Cerilles told the panel that he has already inquired with the NICA and the DILG about said confidential report and even sent them a letter requesting for a copy of such.
Conversely, there was an admission from Cuy that the Governor was not provided with a copy of the report and was deprived of his right to due process.
Moreover, Acop stressed that the NAPOLCOM neglected its own protocols directing the Commission to evaluate and thoroughly validate all complaints or reports that are forwarded to it.
When asked about the steps taken by the NAPOLCOM on the confidential report, Vice Chairman Rogelio Casurao said that the directive given to the Regional Director to validate and verify the report were all made verbally, which received adverse response from the Committee members.
Rep. Makmod Mending Jr. (Party-list, AMIN) also noted that the memorandum circulars issued by the Commission are beyond what the Law has provided.
He explained that the motu proprio bestowed upon the NAPOLCOM was only on their power to restore suspended deputization of local chief executives and not the actual withdrawal of deputization.
Casurao later on expressed his appreciation for the hearing which to him has revealed the inconsistencies in the implementing rules and regulations (IRRs) of the NAPOLCOM. He vowed to work on fine-tuning the provisions of their circulars that are not in accordance with the law.
“We are not questioning your IRRs and your memorandum circulars. What we are bringing out in this forum is the fact that you have not followed the protocols that you have provided…We are not questioning your authority. We are questioning how you used that authority,” Acop clarified.
At the latter part of the hearing, representatives from the, Philippine National Police (PNP) and NICA, among others, claimed that they have never received any complaints against Governor Cerilles accusing him of any form of offense.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director Jigger Montallana also asserted that the Governor was never a part of the “narco-politicians" list.
In an interview, Governor Cerilles also showed gratitude to the House for addressing this problem of NAPOLCOM issuing circulars that are beyond the intentions of the law.
The Committee was scheduled to hold an executive session for the concerned agency to be able to present the confidential report used against Governor Cerilles. But during the meeting there were no confidential reports presented.
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