Criminal and administrative charges were filedby a human rights group against Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol, regional police director of Western Visayas, and former Napolcom regional director Honey Paredes, before the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices for allegedly linking them and their officials to the New People’s Army.

Complainant Bernardino Patigas Sr., secretary general of the Northern Negros Alliance of Human Rights Advocates, in his complaint of libel and violation of of RA 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials and Employees, said branding him and NNHARA as a communist group, linking them to the NPA hit squads and criminal elements, and as the alleged recipient of Mayor Melicio Yap’s financial and logisticalsupport, including assault rifles,in a confidential report, are baseless and highly libelous.

Patigas said the allegations clearly establish prima facie and probable cause against the defendants.

Paredes hadretired from the government service last year, while Querol is still the regional police director of Western Visayas.

Querol, in a progress report dated March 17 last year that he submitted to Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, said that Mayor Melecio Yap had a close association with the local communist group before he assumed his position as themayor of Escalante City.

As a manifestation of his tactical alliance with NNHARA and as a long time friend of Patigas, Yap himself provides financial and logistical support to the said human rights group many years ago, he added.

A copy of the complaint to the Ombudsman was furnished to DAILY STAR by Escalante Councilor Santiago Maravillas.

The 19 reported murder incidents in Escalante since 2007,majority of which were claimed by the NPA, and the suspension of Yap’s supervisory power over the local police by the Napolcom, also led to the creation of a task force, that is now investigating the alleged extra-legal killings in the place.

Yap has repeatedly denied the accusations against him.

As a consequence of the baseless and malicious imputation of a crime, Patigas said he and his family suffered unmitigated public humiliation and disgrace.

At the same time, he added,he was so emotionally depressed that he was unable to focus on his day-to-day work.

The Ombudsman for the Military, finding the affidavit complaintand supporting documents of Patigas “sufficient in form and substance”, ordered Querol and Paredes to submit their subscribed and sworn counter- affidavits, as well as their evidences.*GPB

back to top