Iloilo candidate accuses cops of harassment, intimidation

Rep. Arthur Defensor Jr. (left) and Rep. Ferjenel Biron, both of Iloilo, are running against each other as governor of the province. (INQUIRER.net file photos)

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — The camp of Iloilo Rep. Ferjenel Biron, who is now running for governor, has accused officials of Western Visayas Police Regional Office of harassing and intimidating their leaders and supporters.

But Brig. Gen. John Bulalacao, Western Visayas police chief, denied this, saying Biron’s camp was just trying to “save face” and “further gain the sympathy” of voters.

Lemuel Fernandez, Biron’s campaign manager, accused Bulalacao of turning the police force into a “private army” of Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor and his son, Iloilo Rep. Arthur Defensor Jr.

Biron is running against the younger Defensor for the gubernatorial post.

“It is clear that the PNP force has been unleashed to curtail the campaign of Dr. Ferj Biron,” Fernandez told the INQUIRER.

Aside from Bulalacao, Fernandez also accused Col. Marlon Tayaba, Iloilo Police Provincial director, of being biased against them.

He said there had been a massive deployment of police units in areas perceived as bailiwicks of Biron — and even in front of his house in Barotac Nuevo.

There has also been an unusually large number of police officers deployed in their caucuses and rallies, according to Fernandez.

Fernandez also alleged that their leaders and supporters who go to Biron’s house were frisked and questioned.

Bulalacao said his orders to police officers were for them to enforce the laws no matter who was involved.

“The comments of Biron’s supporters of alleged bias by the PNP are basically biased perception in itself because most of the arrested suspects in vote buying are Biron’s supporters,” Bulalacao said in a statement.

“My order to my men on the ground is to arrest all violators of election laws without fear or favor regardless of political affiliation,” he said.

He said these orders could be “validated” from field commanders and their subordinates.

“Nonetheless, since we are on election period, mudslinging is expected. This is a common practice among politicians to save face and to further gain the sympathy of the voting public,” Bulalacao said. “As law enforcers we will not be cowed by whatever accusations hurled against us. We are determined to fulfill our mandate of ensuring an honest, orderly and peaceful elections.”

For his part, Tayaba said they were merely enforcing the law in response to reports of vote buying.

“Out of the 38 reports of alleged vote buying, two allegedly involved supporters of Defensor while 36 alleged involved supporters of Biron,” Tayaba told the INQUIRER.

On Saturday, Ronnie Dorde, chief of Barangay Preciosa in Sara town and a campaign leader of Biron, sustained a gunshot wound in the belly after being shot during an altercation with four persons.

The four were alleged attempting to buy votes, but Dorde accosted them

Tayaba could did confirm allegations that the four were supporters of a mayoral candidate.

He said they had identified three of the four people involved in the shooting.

“We are conducting hot pursuit operations and preparing to file a complaints against them,” he said.

A platoon of 32 police officers was also sent to Sara to augment the security there.

(Editor: Alexander T. Magno)