Failure to discuss probe into ASG’s incursion hit

TAGBILARAN CITY, Philippines —  Some Boholanos have reportedly assailed the failure of  the Provincial Board’s peace and order committee, in last week’s meeting, to thoroughly discuss a proposal calling for a congressional probe into the incursion of the Abu Sayyaf Group in Bohol.

Vice Governor Dionisio Victor Balite, who proposed for the investigation, said he was “disappointed over the failure” of the meeting at the Capitol, which put his bid “on the sidelines” instead.

Instead of focusing on the proposal, the committee—chaired by PB Member Ricky Masamayor, reportedly delved more on “other matters” including the letter of a habal-habal driver (name withheld) recipient who allegedly only received P450,000 reward after the killing of Abu Joselito Melloria in the Inabanga bloody clash on April 11, Balite said.

Balite, in a DyTR radio program, said his concern was not fully tackled but he admitted that he was later on appeased when Masamayor promised to call for another round of the committee meeting.

In his privilege speech earlier at the PB, Balite moved for the approval of a resolution urging Congress “to conduct an investigation, in aid of legislation, on the Abu Sayyaf invasion in the province of Bohol.”

This proposal however, in order to be passed, would need committee recommendations or until after the persons concerned are invited to shed light on the real score over Abu Sayyaf’s incursion into Bohol.

A relative (name withheld) of Melloria, who accompanied ten Abu Sayyaf members in Bohol, told The Freeman that Melloria’s group had been visiting Barangay Napo in Inabanga, even earlier in September 2016.

This revelation was corroborated by police authorities after the ASGs sighting on April 10, a day before the Inabanga gun battle took place.

Balite said he was confused on how come the Abu Sayyaf bandits were able to penetrate the province. “I have no capacity to conclude and clear the clouds of doubts that have been lingering in my mind, as regards to the Abu Sayyaf invasion to our province. As I tried to make things clear, the more they became blurred.”

He said Bohol is a tourism place and not a terrorism destination, and has been known as a friendly province, starting with the Sikatuna-Legaspi peaceful compact, with its peace-loving people, “until that fateful Inabanga and Clarin encounters with the Abu Sayyaf.”

Salvador Diputado, brother-in-law of Balite and is now regional director of Department of Agriculture-7, commented in his column published in regional paper that PB Member Abeleon Damalerio was seemingly without regard to the testimony of Barangay Bacani Chairperson Victor Sanchez of Clarin town, on digging deeper into the veracity of the affidavit of the driver who received the reward.

Balite said Masamayor, who presided over the committee meeting, apparently allowed Damalerio to have a longer questioning time that somehow deprived other PB members of their chance to air their sides.

Meanwhile, Balite said “we commended the heroic acts of the four descendants of Dagohoy by passing en masse a PB Resolution acknowledging their acts of valor.” He was referring to the four—three soldiers and one policeman of Calape—who were killed by Abu Sayyaf bandits during the gunbattle on April 11, at sitio Ilaya, Barangay Napo, Inabanga, Bohol. (FREEMAN)