PNP admits 'excesses'
in Iloilo Capitol assault
BY NESTOR P. BURGOS JR.

ILOILO CITY---The Philippine National Police yesterday admitted that there were excesses in the Wednesday's assault of the Iloilo provincial capitol following condemnation from the Commission on Human Rights and various sectors.

"The television footages and pictures in the newspapers undeniably showed that there were excesses," Chief Supt. Wilfredo Dulay, Western Visayas police chief, said in a telephone interview.

Dulay said the breaking of the building's capitol glass doors and pointing of guns at civilians were not part of orders to the policemen.

We'll defend RMG men
from Negros: Gonzalez
BY CARLA GOMEZ

"We will defend the Regional Mobile Group men who entered the Iloilo Capitol, adequate protection will be given to them."

This was the response yesterday of Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez to the announced probe by the Commission on Human Rights on the "assault" on the Iloilo Capitol Wednesday by the police, who included the 6th RMG from Negros Occidental led by Senior Supt. Pedro Merced.

The police were tasked with serving a dismissal order on Gov. Niel Tupas, which was aborted after the Court of Appeals issued a temporary restraining order.

Vice governor files raps
for sedition vs. Tupas
BY NESTOR P. BURGOS JR.

ILOILO CITY - A day after the controversial armed assault on the Iloilo provincial capitol. Gov. Niel Tupas Sr. has been slapped with a sedition complaint filed by Vice Governor Robero Armada and provincial board member Emmanuel Gallar.

In a four-page complaint filed before the Iloilo City Prosecutors Office on Thursday, Armada and Gallar accused Tupas of violating Article 139 of the Revised Penal Code.

Also named respondents were the governor's son and provincial board member Niel "Jun-Jun" Tupas Jr., provincial administrator Manuel Mejorada, provincial jail warden Juan Mabugat and other unidentified respondents.