PNP will not apologize to NPA, only to victims of Batangas school arson if involvement of tagged cops is proven in the probe

By Ronron
May 21, 2007

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said Monday it will not apologize to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) for prematurely accusing the New People’s Army (NPA) as being responsible for the burning of a school in Batangas last May 15.

PNP spokesman Chief Supt.. Samuel Pagdilao, Jr. said it will not take back its allegation against the NPA since PNP Chief Gen. Oscar Calderon divulge it in the context of being one of the many angles being looked into by police investigators.

Besides, Pagdilao said Calderon’s allegation has basis, considering the fact that Taysan town is infested with communist insurgents and that only the NPA will benefit from the arson if it disrupts the election process.

“It is not proper for us to apologize to the NPA,” Pagdilao said.

But as to the other demand of the CPP, Pagdilao said it will apologize to the victims of the crime and the people of Batangas if the investigation proves that members of the PNP are indeed involvement.

“If, at the end of the day, after the investigation, the involvement of the police will be proven, we certainly will ask for an apology for what these policemen did, which, by the way, is only very minor compared to what the NPA had been doing,” Pagdilao said.

Pagdilao said the CPP should even be thankful that the PNP is showing its professionalism and trust-worthiness as an organization because it is not hiding the involvement of the cops in the crime.

Two personnel of the Police Regional Special Operations Group IV-A are being implicated in the incident, although they have denied the allegation./DMS