Pubdate: Fri, 17 Jun 2005
Source: Sunstar Cagayan De Oro (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005 Sunstar Cagayan De Oro.
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2983
Author: Lizanilla J. Amarga and Joey P. Nacalaban
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Summary+Execution
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

VALENCIA MAYOR DISPUTES ALLEGATIONS ON DEATH SQUAD

VALENCIA, Bukidnon -- Mayor Jose Galario is suspected of being the
brains behind a death squad responsible for the summary killings of
nine alleged illegal drug pushers operating inside and outside
Valencia City.

Galario denied such allegations, saying he condemns summary executions
of the suspected drug pushers for he believes that due process of law
should be observed.

Newly installed PNP-Bukidnon provincial director Archie Gamboa vowed
to "totally eradicate" this vigilante group called Anti-Drug Advocate
(ADA) within one month regardless of who are involved.

Gamboa, who is also a lawyer and a top Philippine Military Academy
graduate, requested both pro-ADA and anti-ADA radio broadcasters for
an "absolute" radio blackout on this ADA issue that has so allegedly
divided Valencia City for this entire month.

He told 50 Bukidnon journalists that he is willing to be lambasted on
a 24-hour basis should he fail to crush ADA. Such an agreement was
arrived at during the city peace and order council (CPOC) special
meeting last Wednesday with the one-month timetable ticking off
starting Thursday.

Bukidnon Governor Jose Zubiri called for "calmness" amongst his
Valencia City constituents on this issue saying he is "very confident"
that Gamboa can very well keep his words.

Several residents and radio broadcasters here voiced suspicions that
Galario could be the brains behind the ADA group as the Valencia City
mayor and his spokesman Pete Janao seem to have prior knowledge as to
who would be the next ADA target.

Brainchild

They said Galario's block time radio program dubbed "Bull's Eye"
broadcasted the names of suspected illegal drug pushers that are
sometimes allegedly sent via text messages and read on air.

Radio Mindanao Network dxVR broadcaster Joas Dignos together with
several other radio commentators and city residents have raised
questions as to how some nine alleged drug pushers have been summarily
executed the day or two after their names have been broadcasted over
Galario's radio program.

During the CPOC special meeting, Galario admitted that people suspect
that ADA is his brainchild.

"Kabalo ko ako man kanang gipasabot (I know they suspect me of being
the ADA mastermind)," he said particularly mentioning Dignos's comments.

But Galario and Janao separately denounced talks of them being
involved in illegal drug activities and ADA vigilante killings saying
only their anti-drug campaigns are aired during that Bull's Eye radio
program.

They claimed that the radio program has become instrumental for 700
illegal drug pushers and users to "surrender" to their city anti-drug
council (CDAC) and be under "rehabilitative" care.

When asked as to whether he would put a stop to these ADA killings and
whether he would file charges against the members of this death squad,
Galario replied that there is also no such thing as an ADA group.

"Wala namay ADA gidakop na man sila ang uban nanagan naman kinsa pamay
atong file-lan ug sumbong? Kanang ADA atik-atik lang dili kana sila
organized (There is no longer any ADA as they have been arrested while
some of them already took off so who is left for us to slap charges
against? The ADA group is not organized but merely a joke)," the mayor
said.

Unethical

But Galario nevertheless later said ADA exists but it has only killed
three drug pushers.

"Sakay sa panahon raman kadtong uban (The other killings of suspected
drug pushers were merely initiated by some copycats who took advantage
of ADA's reputation)," he said. "I don't want ADA to be implicated in
the killings."

Galario, Janao and several other City Hall officials took turns
hitting at Dignos for his "unethical and below the belt" comments
about them being involved with this ADA group during the CPOC special
meeting.

Dignos kept his silence saying the CPOC gathering is not the proper
forum and that he has documents and witnesses to back his claims.

RMN area manager James Jadormio also defended Dignos and his Bukidnon
staff saying they initiated an "investigative reporting" on the ADA
issue before going on air.

Galario and several other officials still kept on hitting Dignos and
on how the latter should be "disciplined."

A city information employee even wanted to play a tape he personally
recorded containing Dignos's comments that could also form part of the
basis of whether the radioman should be judged as following the
ethical or unethical standards.

Eradicate

To stop the already four-hour long heated discussion, Gamboa put his
foot down saying Dignos should not be put on trial and there is no
need to play a tape record of the radioman's commentaries on this ADA
issue.

He said the law states that only the Kapisanan ng mga Broadkasters ng
Pilipinas (KBP) or the court can discipline radio commentators.

Gamboa who was just installed last month said they should instead find
a solution on these ADA killings together.

He then offered to "totally eradicate" the ADA in one month time and
at the same time requested that all pro-ADA and anti-ADA radio
commentators to stop airing ADA-related stories.

"Give us a chance. I assure you all no matter how deep it is we will
not stop until we eradicate ADA. Atong undangon ang ADA kung kinsa may
maligsan pasyensya (We will stop ADA and if it would mean running over
some people then we will do so)," he said. "Give us one month and I
guarantee that you will feel the police enforcement here."
- ---