PNP eyes two angles in torching of Batangas school

05/17/2007

The Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday disclosed two angles are now being eyed on the torching of a school building in Taysan, Batangas, that killed a teacher and a poll watcher last Tuesday.

PNP chief Director General Oscar Calderon ordered a thorough investigation of the case and pursuit operations against the perpetrators behind the incident as Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Jeslie Lapus called on police authorities to arrest the suspects.

Calderon said the Taysan incident could have been insurgency or election-related.

Meanwhile, the New People’s Army (NPA) in a text message denied having been responsible for the burning down of the school building, they even condemned the incident.

Lapus, in a text message to media men covering Camp Crame in Quezon City, said the entire DepEd demands swift justice on the senseless murder of one of its teachers, Nellie Banaag, and Leticia Ramos, a poll watcher.

“Our teachers have done their patriotic duty in the polls,” Lapuz said.

On Tuesday morning, a group of heavily-armed men set on fire the Pinagbayanan Elementary School in Taysan, Batangas.

Six other persons were seriously wounded in the incident.

“Let the people know that violence on our teachers can never ever be tolerated. The full force of the law must be meted out,” Lapuz added.

For his part, Calderon ordered Chief Supt. Geary Barias, PNP director for investigation and detective management, to prioritize follow-up investigation on the attack which happened while the teachers were canvassing votes.

Banaag and Ramos were killed after they locked themselves inside restrooms while the suspects were firing their guns indiscriminately and setting the establishment on fire.

“So if ever there is chaos, we have a suspicion that it’s possible that the NPA did this to disrupt the conduct of the elections,” Calderon said.

Calderon added the winning mayoralty candidate in the area had a 1,000 vote margin over his opponent that prompted the communist rebels to sabotage the election proceedings.

The PNP chief immediately ordered the relief of Taysan chief of Police Insp. Elpidio Ramirez while he is being subjected to investigation for possible operational lapses in connection with the attack.

Ramirez was replaced by Chief Insp. Gaudencio Pukyutan.

Calderon said a joint team of PNP and Philippine Air Force personnel are now securing Taysan town to prevent a repeat of the incident. Gina Peralta-Elorde

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