the CHAMP

The recent political development in the peaceful town of Lavezares is not peaceful at all. It was chaotic, divisive, and painful. No one wins; everyone loses. To many, the future will be bleak.. To some, a new age has come to break the old order. If the old order is orderly, then, what is in store for the new? If the new age means new beginning, will it move on smoothly to where it intends to go. One sure thing is, Lavezares will never be the same again. What really have happened? To our leaders? To our town? To us? Where are we going from this day on? Let us try to seek answers where everything has started. The fight between Saludaga and Balag, Or what is it only between them? Both loved by their people. A people divided by either by their lust for power or their love for Lavezares The following are the important events that transpired in the dawning of a political crisis that may take a lifetime and maybe generations to endure. May 11, 2007 – National and Local election in this town was conducted peacefully. Both the Comelec and PPCRV did not receive any report of irregularity, fraud, or violence. Days later, the Municipal Board of Canvassers and the PPCRV (Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting) Quick Count declared that Quintin Saludaga got a vote of 5,913 while Balag got 5,168 for a margin of 745 in favor of Saludaga. Months later, Balag filed an electoral protest on allegation that there was use of force and intimidation on the part of Saludaga. Appreciation of votes began. After several days, Balag’s camp has also filed electoral protest against Vice-mayor Manuel Turla and SB members who belong to Saludaga’s fold. In the following months, electoral protest against Saludaga moved on while those against vice-mayor and some SB members were dismissed. March 24, 2008 - Judge Eugenio dela Cruz’ decision was read by the new judge, Manuel Torrevillas (RTC-Allen)(dela Cruz was already transferred to RTC-Pasay before the promulgation day but it was him who made the decision). Dela Cruz decided in favor of Balag. Supporters of Saludaga staged ‘people power’ in support of the mayor. When Mayor Saludaga studied the decision, he found out with his lawyer that dela Cruz’ computation was wrong. Dela Cruz based his figures on the affidavit of Balag which did not tally with the official statement of votes of the Municipal Board of Canvassers. If the official tally will be followed, Mayor would lead by more than hundred votes even if the 698 votes be deducted from him which dela Cruz has declared deliberately as being written by one or two. March 31, 2008 – Saludaga’s supporters have staged another “people power.” Many have even flocked to RTC-Allen to show their support to their mayor as Judge Torrevillas is about to decide Balag’s motion for immediate execution pending appeal. At 3 o’clock in the afternoon, Torrevillas denied Balag’s motion. Mayor Saludaga’s supporters called it a ‘miracle.’ The electoral protest was then elevated to the Comelec’s 2nd Division. August 12, 2009 – Comelec’s 2nd Division, a collegial body composed of three commissioners affirmed Judge Eugenio dela Cruz’ decision with modification. It affirmed that 622 votes for Mayor Saludaga were either written by one or by two; in the four protested precinct, Mayor Saludaga was deducted with 135 votes; Artemio Balag was added with 99 votes. Balag has won by more than a hundred. August 14, 2009 – Mayor Saludaga issued an open letter questioning Comelec 2nd Division’s decision. He claimed he was victimized by dagdag bawas from the precinct level to the RTC up to the Comelec. He argued that figures cited in the decision are not consistent with the original election returns, to wit: In Chansvilla (Precinct 26), Saludaga got 73 while Balag got 38. But in the Comelec’s decision, these figures were interchanged. It now becomes 38 for Saludaga and 73 for Balag. In Libas(Precinct 37A) – Balag got a vote of 63 but in the Comelec’s decision it now becomes 76. Thirteen(13) was added to him. In Villa(Precinct 68A/B) – Saludaga got 111 votes but in the decision it is down to 11 votes only. In Villa (Precinct 71A/B), Balag got a vote of 64 but the Comelec recorded 115. Saludaga said, if the Comelec will only follow the original election return, he will still led by 156 even if he gives away 622 votes which they considered as written by one or two. September 4, 2009(Friday) – News broke all over Lavezares that Comelec 2nd Division has granted Balag’s motion for immediate execution pending appeal. September 5, 2009 (Saturday) – Mayor Saludaga issued a statement to his people which was distributed to all barangays. In his statement, he vowed to continue with his fight for truth and justice. September 6, 2009(Sunday) - Some of Mayor Saludaga’s supporters have solicited financial support from mayors from other towns and from businessman. Some have voluntarily given their support. On the evening, people have started to vigil at the municipal hall. ABS-CBN made an interview with Mayor Saludaga and some of his supporters. September 7, 2009(Monday) – people continue to flock to the Municipal Hall in support of Mayor Saludaga. On the evening, people prayed the rosary. There was a presscon for Mayor Saludaga and the members of the Municipal Board of Canvassers. Mediamen from Samar-Leyte Press Club were in attendance. Mayor Saludaga claimed, he was cheated from the RTC to the 2nd Division of the Comelec. Four protested precinct by Balag do not tally with the original election return. If Comelec would only follow the original election return, Saludaga will still lead by 156 votes. He also lambasted Judge dela Cruz for dismissing his 698 votes as either written by one or by two, all by himself without undergoing thorough determination from handwriting experts. At 7;30, an indignation rally started. Barangay captains expressed their support for mayor. The special guest for the rally was Board Member Jun Rosales who inspired people to be strong because he has been to the same situation as Mayor Saludaga when he was still the mayor of Catarman. People inside the municipal hall were determined to stay. As they are threatened that Balag’s camp might force their way, they fenced the entire municipal hall and auditorium with barbed wire. Garbage trucks were used to block the first gate(beside the waiting shed) and to transport people in the barangays. September 8, 2009(Tuesday) – It is expected by many that the execution order will be served today. More than 500 supporters of Mayor Quintin B. Saludaga have spontaneously flocked to the Municipal Hall as a show of support to their mayor and express protest against execution order by the Comelec to unseat Mayor Saludaga as a result of the electoral protest filed against him by Artemio Balag. These people believe the execution order is not to be honored because of the following: 1. The order is without basis because the decision of the Comelec’s 2nd Division to grant motion for immediate execution for Artemio Balag is signed only by one member instead of two or three as the division is a three-member collegial body. People in the municipal hall and the bystanders have kept on waiting for the DILG or Comelec to officially serve the execution, if there is any. Some PNP personnel have been stationed to secure the vicinity. For the first time, Bayan Ko was sung at the Rizal Monument as people put on the air their closed fist and while other waved Laban sign. Many have been crying. Meanwhile, Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer has elevated the motion for reconsideration filed by Saludaga to the Comelec en banc. September 9, 2009(Wednesday) - the protest assembly is in full swing as more people keep holding on at the municipal hall blocking any attempt of the PNP to enter the area. At 10:30 in the morning, Mayor Saludaga delivered his last speech before leaving to Manila at 1 pm. At about 2 o’clock in the afternoon, a DILG officer from the Provincial Office came to attempt to serve Mayor Saludaga what they say as the execution order. The DILG officer went first at the DILG Office at the ABC Building. Traffic was partially closed at the vicinity at the municipal hall up to ABC Building. MLGOO Rosa Tiozon refused to accompany the DILG officer from the province to serve the said execution order because of the following: 1. The order did not undergo the usual process of inter/intra-office transmittal as from the Comelec Central Office to its regional office down to the provincial level and from the Comelec to the DILG, and; 2. Absence of the Comelec personnel to officially serve the execution order. At the end of the day, DILG has failed to serve the order. September 10, 2009 (Thursday) - Some personnelfrom the Comelec have thrice attempted to enter the municipal hall but failed as people blocked their way. Titay Balag and his supporters have occupied the ABC Building. At 11 am, he issued an order to the people at the municipal hall to vacate as he considers it an illegal assembly. At 12 noon, some 50 Saludaga’ s supporters went to Comelec-Central Office in Intramuros to staged a rally the following day. At 4 pm, two trucks of heavily armed men rushed at the vicinity on a news that people at the municipal hall were getting chaotic. The news they got was wrong as they find out for themselves the entire protest assembly to be very peaceful. The armed trucks retreated. September 11, 2009 (Friday) – Early in the morning, a group of more or less thirty PNP personnel composing the Crowd Dispersal Unit is all set to disperse the people. At 10 am, negotiation between the representatives of Saludaga and Balag at the Parish Convent witnessed by Msgr. Walter Cerbito, the parish priest, failed due to lack of representation. At 10:30 am, PNP’s dispersal unit moved their way to the human barricade. PNP’s dispersal unit have been pushing to move forward but people keep on resisting. Msgr. Cerbito asked the PNP to stop while he tries to talk with Balag. At this same time, more than 60 supporters of Mayor Saludaga staged a rally at the Comelec-Central Office in Intramuros. The rally was cut short due to heavy rainshowers. Though it was raining heavily the whole night, people at the municipal ground continued to hold on. September 12, 2009 At around 5:30 in the morning while the daily mass is going on at the parish church just a few step from the municipal building, a commotion of people was overheard and in the silence of the early morning people have been shouting “hustisya! hustisya! hustisya!”. It was then when four patrol car filled with heavily armed PNP personnel came to reinforce the dispersal unit.. PNP Provincial Director Mejos was not able to show an official order from the higher command to enforce dispersal but insisted in pursuing his plan. Several people have seen that PD Mejos is drunk while issuing orders to disperse the crowd. In the ensuing dispersal, some people were hurt and wounded as recorded by the police blotter. Some rules of engagement were violated such as the required minimum distance between the armed men at the vicinity was not observed. It was also observed that some armed men have entered the assembly of civilians. It cannot be forgotten that the dispersal was conducted by a drunk PNP Director as witnessed by all. While negotiations were going on between PNP and the leaders of the protesters, dispersal unit which now include armed men that even crept into the rooftop of the Mayor’s Office and the SB Hall. Very quickly, they removed the barbed wires and all hurdles while threatening the people with handcuffs and ordering arrest. People have valiantly stood on until they were all cornered in front of the Mayor’s Office. They were all tired but unbowed; still shouting for justice. Some were crying; never was there any tinge of remorse or doubt to what they have been fighting for. For them it was not a lost battle because the spirit that makes them stand will be forever entrenched in their beloved town’s history; just waiting to be tapped anytime it is necessary. Indeed, a beautiful story of love and bravery. These are some just accounts of some people inside the municipal hall on that fateful Saturday early morning: Ex-Mayor Jun Saludaga: Naimdan ngan nabatian ko si PNP Provincial Director Mejos nag-istorya sin pasiyak sa atubangan san mga tawo “i-vacate na niyo an munisipyo kay may bag-o na nga mayor”. “Awe, awe, hain ka? Wara ka didi(ginpupunto san iya kamot an iya sintido). Pag-abot sa may gate, gin-orderan niya an iya mga tawo nga i-cut na an mga barbwire. Naimdan ko si Belicoy(Joseph Baldesancho) nakiagaway san plies san police. Nagbaton si Belicoy sa iya mga relatives nga nagpapagawas sa iya “kamo an hali didi, kay ako ginlalaban ko an kamtuoran. Mayor Jun said “hain an iyo order of dispersal?. Nagbaton si PD Mejos “deri na kinahanglan an order kay may bag-o na nga mayor. Ilegal kamo didi.” Sa ikaduha nga gate, ginplies an mga barbwire tas ulang nga plywood, ginpadanas sa patrol car. SB Salvador: Ginplies an mga barikada sin barbed wire. Nag-order si PD kan Araral nga rubaon an ‘intuan’ “Gibain an gate”. Nag-ulang sa gate si Leo Bello, Marlou Pambuena, Lino Benzon. Kap Domiquel: Pagsulod ko sa may sa may kanto san gate, an pulis nga duha ginhapot ak kun “makain ka?”, nagbaton ak nga masulod ak. Pero gin-igo ako san butt san armalite kaya nag-atras nala ak. Raul Portes Sr, Barangay Villa: Didto ako sa frontline sa atubangan san mayor’s office, atubangan mismo san dispersal unit. Nag-order si Araral nga “posasan kamo.” Tinago ko an kamot ko kay basi deri ak mapososan kay gin-aabot niya an kamot ko. An naabot niya (Araral) an leog ko, gintitilo ak niya(Araral). Nagsiyak ako nga “Gintitilo ako! Gintitilo ako!. Naimdan ko nga hubog gud si Araral kay mabagahun an mata tas nangangamamyon sin irimnon. Pagsiyak ko, binutsan niya an leog ko. Tas nagsugad si Araral, “wara ko man ikaw tilua.” Ginbaton ko siya “Tinelo mo ako!” Manuel Peoquinto, Brgy. Macarthur. Didto ako sa may gate. Gintultog ako ni Ordona sin kahoy sa tangan san akon wala nga siki. Tapos gintuklang ako niya sin makusog sa may akon dughan. Nakahurandig ako sa may plywood nga ulang san gate. Tapos nagsulod na si Ordona. Brgy. Capt Edwin Turla, Bgy. Chansvilla: May ranggos an akon tuo nga butkon . Nahitabo ini san ginpoposan kunta ako ni Kapt. Ordona san ginkakaptan ako sa tuo nga kamot sin makusog. Winaklit ko an posas kaya ini nagkaranggos. Duha ako ka beses pagposasi kunta. An ikatulo, narabot ako ni Marlo Pambuena. Ex-Bgy. Capt Marlo Pambuena: Sa may gilid ako san gate dapit sa may santa. Nag-abot si Araral tas mga kauropod nira may dara nga cutter. Ginhapot ko siya kun maano siya. Wara siya magbaton. Gin-abungan ko sira. Nagsugad si Ordona “wara kamo sini labot kay amon ini trabaho.” Ginkawit pinaagi sin tubo nga may kaw-ing an gate, gintaod sa patrol car an durho, tapos ginpasaog sa patrol car an lipon sa gate. San naruba na an ulang, gin-aabungan la gihapon namon ni Leo Bello. Nag-order si Ordona nga posasan tas arestuhon kami. Kinaptan an akon kamot ni PD Mejos tas Ordona para posasan ako. Ginwahi ko sira nga duha kaya nakadulag ako. An kaupod ko nga si Leo Bello mao naman an ginpoposasan. Madulag kunta si Leo, ginsalapid ni Ordona. Napaulob si Leo. Ginposasan si Leo ni Ordona kabulig si PD Mejos, Araral, tas sayo nga nakacivilian nga may armas. Nagsugad si Leo “tama na man kay di man ako sa iyo maato, ayaw! ayaw! di maato” Pero waray sa iya mamati. Ginbaraklid siya. Nakaulob siya nga ginposasan. May nagsuntok pa sa iya likok nga nakaulob pa siya. Gindara sa may sarakyan si Leo ni PD Mejos, ginkiclip niya an leog ni Leo. An kautod san posas, ginsab-it sa tubo san sarakyan. SB Member Tita A. Adriatico – “Nag-abot ako sa munisipyo haros alas 5:40. Nakit-an ko nga narekupo na san . naka camouflage nga armado an mga kalye tikang sa mga santa pakadi sa my highway ngadto sa my waiting shed. Ginpapa-atras ko sira kay an akon pagkakaaram an engagement san dispersal waray gud armado sin 100meters tikang sa mga tawo. Nagpiriliw sira sa my balay ni Modesto. Naimdan ko nga may armado sa butnga san kalye, may dara dara nga pole nga may hook, ginpaatras ko siya. Nag-atras gud man. May nagsiyak sa akon nga “Manay Tita, adto na liwat sa may waiting shed. Pagkadto ko sa may waiting shed, naimdan ko an tropa ni Hayag. Nagsugad ako “Nano kay adi kamo nagpakapusil an imo kaupod, an rules san engagement, kinahanglan 100 meters an kaharayo tikang sa site. Nagstop sira sin pira ka segundo kay ginbantayan ko. Nagsugad si “Hayag, andun na si PD.” Wara ko na sira ka-kontrol gincut na an mga barbwire. Naipit na an mga tawo san mga dispersal unit sa may mayor’s office. “Nakainom ka?”, guinhapot ko si PD Mejos. Deri ko pa aram sadto nga siya ngay-an si PD Mejos. “May ebidensya ka?, ” baton sa ak ni Mejos. “Oo, kay namamaho ka”, an baton ko. Nagdudrudngan an mga tawo pagsiyak kan Mejos nga “Hubog! Hubog!” Nagpahuway kadali si Mejos sa may luma nga building tas binalik ta sa may dispersal unit. May nababati ako sa mga tawo nga nasugad “aduy, aduy, gintitilo ako.” Nagsugad si Mejos “Awe, Awe, paalisin mo ang mga tao. Sayang an aton pagsangkay.” Kapot-kapot niya an grilyos. Nagsugad ako nga “Ayaw ngun-a, ayaw ngun-a. Pag-iristoryahan ta ngun-a ini. May nagsiriyak naman sa luyo san kalye “adto na, adto na, nagsarakat na sa atop.” Naimdan ko nala nga may mga armado nga nagrurulusad na tikang sa atop san Mayor’s Office.” SB Member Basilio C. Adriatico – Kahuman pagtawag sa akon ni Manay Carol tikang Enriqueta 5:35, may nag-agi nga patrol dida na ako sa gawas. San naimod ko an upat nga patrol car, nagakarapot kamo san mga tawo. Ako an sa piliwon. An dati nga nga patrol car nga nakabalabag sa highway, ginpiliw nira. Naghaw-as si PD sin sayo nga patrol tapos nagsugad nga “Evacuate na an munisipyo kay may duly elected na nga mayor. Awe, awe, pira gud an katawhan didi sa Lavezares? Nagbaton nga sobra 20 mil. Nagbaton si PD “ pira kamo didi sa municipio?”Nagbaton si Vice nga “damo gad.” Nagsugad si PD “pira la kamo nga narepresentar, tagi na man niyo higayon an bag-o nga mayor. Katig-a san ulo niyo. Kahapon pa kamo gin-istoryahan nga mag-disperse.” Sa iya pag-istorya, nababahuan ko siya sin irimnon. Nagsenyas siya sa mga kauropod sin pagcut san mga barb wire. May ada sin sayo nga nagkakawit san barbwire ug placard nga nakabonet. May ada sin kaupod si PD nga duha nga nakacivilan nga may-nagbubutog butog sa mga tagiliran nira. San nagdurusuay na, tungod nga deri na namon kaya kay naabrihan naman an mga barb wire, nagsakat ako san SB para magvideo. Na-video ko an pagsulod na nira Mejos. Naparong ko an pagvideo, naglusad na ako. The people of Lavezares condemn the illegal dispersal and the violence caused by police arrogance and brutality on the peaceful assembly at the municipal hall of Lavezares on September 12, 2009 at 5 o’clock in the morning. The people of Lavezares has, since September 8 occupied the grounds of the municipal hall to guard against the entry of powergrabbers, Mayor Quintin B. Saludaga’s opponent who wanted to occupy the seat even without mandate of an election, but were armed only with dubious and defective writ of execution issued by a corrupt Comelec commissioner said to be bribed with 2.5 million. We, the people, believed that we have the constitutional right to defend our votes and to speak out and assemble freely if there are any threats against it. We were so sad the Provincial PNP of Northern Samar led by Provincial Director Mejos was used as a means to facilitate the entry of powergrabbers. These PNP officials have shamelessly allowed themselves to be used to by politicians to effect their evil intentions by way of threatening people with handcuffs, by choking some necks, and by dispersing people upon order of a drunk PNP Director as smelled by all. The following are the grave misconduct made by PNP during their dispersal operation: 1. The whole dispersal operation was without any orders from the higher command of the PNP or from the DILG; 2. The entire assembly period was peaceful, hence, there is no reason for the PNP to disperse the crowd; 3. It can be shown in the video that some armed PNP personnel have entered the assembly area when they should be unarmed; 4. PNP Director Mejos was drunk while issuing orders and discussing arrogantly with the people. He smelled liquor as witnessed by all; and 5. The people did not leave the area voluntarily. They did so because they were threatened by the presence of heavily armed men who entered the assembly area as can be shown in the video.