ILOILO – The mauling of a policeman in Guimbal town was a “wake-up call”, particularly in the 1st District, said Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. “It’s high time to assess the kind of politics and governance in the 1st District,” he stressed.
On Dec. 27, Police Officer 3 Federico Macaya Jr. filed before the Office of the Ombudsman criminal and administrative charges against Cong. Oscar “Richard” Garin Jr. and father Mayor Oscar “Oca” Garin Sr. of Guimbal. He complained of having been mauled.
“This is a wake-up call, especially to the people of the 1st District. Tion na ini nga tilawan naton magreporma (This is the time to reform),” said Defensor.
The 1st District, the acknowledged political bailiwick of the Garins, is made up of the towns of Guimbal, Miag-ao, Oton, Tigbauan, San Joaquin, Igbaras, and Tubungan.
Macaya charged the Garins with assault upon a person in authority, grave coercion, grave threats, physical injuries, slander by deeds, serious illegal detention, alarm and scandal, grave misconduct, conduct unbecoming of public officials, oppression, abuse of authority, and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the public.
Defensor said the case saddened him. The provincial government has always been supportive of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office, he stressed.
According to Macaya, on Dec. 26 Congressman Garin mauled him, slapped and spat on his face near the town hall while Mayor Garin was training a .45 pistol at him.
Defensor urged Ilonggos, particularly those in the 1st District, to reevaluate their choice of leaders.
“Bag-uhon naton ang sahi sang pamolitika indi lang sa premier nga distrito kundi sa bilog nga probinsya sang Iloilo,” said Defensor.
Mayor Garin is seeking reelection this May 13, 2019 midterm elections. Son Richard, on the other hand, is not seeking a third consecutive term and has given way to his wife, former Health secretary Janette Garin.
Defensor urged Ilonggos to give the police due respect.
“They keep our communities safe,” he said.
Policemen, he added, must also not be used for political ends.
In Metro Manila, Secretary Eduardo Año of the Department of Interior and Local Government said there should be no talk of partisanship or politicking in the charges filed against the Garins.
“What we want to show here is that no one is above the law. Whatever your position is in government, whether you are a small ordinary citizen or a high-level government official, we are all the same in the eyes of the law,” said Año.
If a policeman committed a wrongdoing, there are so many bodies that can investigate, he stressed.
“You do not beat up and humiliate a police officer in front of the public,” said Año.
In a statement, Congressman Garin said he got irked with Macaya after a victim in a Dec. 22 commotion at the Guimbal public plaza told them the policeman persuaded him not to file the case against an attacker and that the cop forced him to sign an affidavit expressing disinterest in filing charges.
“For me, what the policeman did was a betrayal of public thrust kag klaro nga pag abusar sang iya posisyon,” according to Garin.
What Macaya did, according to the congressman, was contrary to the Philippine National Police (PNP) policy of not settling the parties in a criminal case.
He apologized to the Philippine National Police (PNP). According to him, he was taking “full responsibility” for his actions but stressed these “were a mere display of extreme frustration towards one, single PNP personnel nga sa akon panglantaw committed a great disservice to the people of Guimbal.”/PN
