Following President Duterte’s statement on private armies in his regular Talk to the People last week, the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) will validate complaints on the alleged private army of Rose Lin, who is running for Congress in District 5 of Quezon City.
Several news outlets have reported that when Lin goes on her house-to-house sorties in the District, she is surrounded by 8 to 10 armed bodyguards. This does not include additional security men in the different headquarters she has across all 14 barangays of Novaliches, the complaints noted.
Lin has yet to comment on these reports as of posting time. Efforts to reach the congressional candidate were fruitless as of Sunday.
In an interview, General Remus Medina, Director of the QCPD, said he will not hesitate to file a case against Lin once it is proven that she is violating the two-escort rule or known as the “Alunan Doctrine” as the President had stated.
In relation to the warning, a raid was conducted by the QCPD on a suspected alleged payout center of Lin in Jonaville, Novaliches. Upon seeing the police elements, people who were lined up started running away. Police officers were able to retrieve evidence connected to vote buying operations being conducted in the location, the earlier reports said.
Lin was recently charged with vote buying at the Commission on Elections related to several activities being conducted in her campaign.
Novaliches residents, including the representative of persons with disabilities in the District, filed the cases against Lin.
The complaints are being acted upon based on the promise of Comelec Commissioner George Garcia that due process will be followed, the complainants said.
An NGO member from Novaliches, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal, has questioned her practice, saying: “Why is Rose Lin scared of going around alone? Is she under threat? The elections here in 2016, 2018 and 2019 have been peaceful!”
Medina, who assumed office as QCPD head in February, has instituted reforms. Response time has been improved as well as police presence and visibility.
The police general has warned all the candidates of Quezon City to abide by the verbal directives of the President and comply with the election rules of the Comelec, as the QCPD is ready to ensure its implementation for a peaceful election across the areas under its operational control.
