CEBU, Philippines - Cebuano anti-communist leader and former congressman Pastor “Jun” Alcover Jr. has asked Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas to investigate Davao City Mayor Duterte for allegedly supporting the Communist rebels.
Alcover, of the disqualified Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy Partylist, addressed his letter dated July 23, 2015 to Roxas being the chairman of the National Peace and Order Council.
“The undersigned humbly hopes that immediate and appropriate action be taken on this matter in order to give justice to the sacrifices of our brave soldiers who risk their lives to get a notorious criminal but only to be glorified and declared a hero by no less than a local chief executive who also has a notoriety for extra judicial killings and violations of human rights,” read the letter of Alcover.
Alcover is apparently referring to the “publicly known support” of Duterte to the slain New People’s Army (NPA) Commander Parago, who has a P5.6 million bounty on his head.
It was reported that Duterte declared Parago a hero and had even offered the use of the Davao gym, a facility owned by the City Government of Davao, for the wake of Parago.
“These material and political support provided by Mayor Duterte clearly boosted the morale of the Communist rebels and even resulted into the glorification by the public of a known criminal and enabled the Communist rebels to bury their commander with pomp just like a hero’s burial,” Alcover said.
Killed in an encounter with government forces on June 28 this year, Parago was said to be the oldest and most wanted commander of the NPA who was allegedly responsible for the many atrocities and criminal acts committed by the NPA in Davao region, including the kidnapping of an Army General.
Alcover also questioned Roxas why no action has been done against Duterte for his open support to the Communist rebels as the duty to recommend sanctions against him is clearly imposed on the sub-national Peace and Order by Executive Order 739 issued by then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on August 19, 2008.
Section 3(d) of the EO specifically provides that one of the duties and functions of the sub-national councils is to apply moral suasion to and/or recommend sanctions against local chief executives who are giving material and political support to the Communist rebels. — (FREEMAN)