LIBERALS HALT RIGODON OF LOCAL POLICE DIRECTORS

LP STALWARTS SECURE TROs IN CAPIZ, CAVITE, ALAMINOS

Liberal Party stalwarts have succeeded in halting Malacañang’s plan to reshuffle provincial and city police directors and schools officials in time for the elections—at least for now. 

In Capiz and Cavite, courts slapped temporary restraining orders (TROs) on the irregularly executed replacement of police directors there, where local executives were not consulted or not even informed. 

Capiz Gov. Victor A. Tanco, who filed a special civil action case to nullify the replacement of Capiz Police Provincial Director PSSUPT Josephus Angan with PSSUPT Primo Golingay or any other police official, gave a sigh of relief. The turnover of the Philippine National Police (PNP)-Capiz to Golingay, which was scheduled this morning, had been postponed. 

“This highly irregular order by the DILG and PNP to replace provincial police directors nationwide has been put to a stop, at least for now,” Tanco said.  

Cavite Gov. Ireneo “Ayong” Maliksi was also able to secure a TRO on the case he filed with the Cavite regional trial court against the transfer of Senior Superintendent Alfred S. Corpuz, director of the Cavite Provincial Police Office to another assignment.

“Tandaan po natin: eleksyon na po. Sa Omnibus Election Code, bawal na po ang mga lipatan ng mga opisyal ng kapulisan, mga guro at iba pang kawani ng gobyerno. Kaya itong rigodon na ginagawa ngayon ng DILG, labag sa batas (Let’s remember. Under the Omnibus Election Code, there is now a ban on the transfer of police, teachers and other employees of the government),” LP President Senator Mar Roxas said.

The Liberal Party has condemned the untimely revamp of local police chiefs without the knowledge of local executives, stressing the reshuffle was a prelude of the administration’s sinister plot to perpetrate massive cheating in the 2010 national elections.  

“Siguradong may kinalaman ito sa paparating na eleksyon, lalo na’t nakita na ng administrasyon na matatalo ito sa Mayo. Gagawin nito ang lahat para manatili sa poder (This is surely connected to the elections, especially since the Administration has seen the impending defeat of its candidates),” Liberal Party Secretary General Cavite Rep. Joseph E.A. Abaya said. 

Abaya earlier revealed more names affected by the reshuffle carried out by the Philippine National Police. Documents furnished to the LP showed the transfer of the following to their new assignments effective January 7 (Thursday):  

• PSSupt. Arnold D. Gunnacao – to Bataan from Calabarzon
• PSSupt. Fernando S. Villanueva – to Nueva Ecija from Highway Patrol Group
• PSSupt. Amador V. Corpus – to Tarlac from Provincial Regional Office 9
• PSSupt. Rafael Santiago Jr. – to Zambales from NCRPO
• SSupt. Alberto C. Supapo – to Bataan from Mimaropa
• PSSupt. Jonathan Ferdinand G. Miano – to Rizal from the PNP Department of Records Management (DPRM)
• PSSupt. Cornelio R. Salinas – to Antique from Maritime Group
• SSupt. Primo B. Golingay – to Capiz from Director for Police Community Relations
• PSSupt. John Q. Sosito – to Northern Leyte from NCRPO
• PSSupt. Rene O. Aspera – to Davao City from DPRM
• PSSupt. Petronio Abdon Retirado – to Camarines Sur from Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG)
• PSSupt. Gilbert dela Cruz Cruz – to Surigao Norte from Police Community Relations Group (PCRG)
• PSSupt. George Ramos Gaddi – to Caloocan City from Directorate for Plans
• PSSupt. Jessie Lorenzo Cardona – to Pasig from Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (DIPO) for Northern Luzon; and
• PSupt. Roger James A. Brillantes – to Provincial Regional Office 3 from Mimaropa.

Alaminos City Mayor Hernani Braganza had also earlier revealed that the government has replaced Alaminos City police chief P/Supt. Lloyd Ramiscal Milan with P/Supt. Gerardo Roxas, without the Department of Interior and Local Government sending him an official notice. 

The LP executives recalled how Malacañang had resorted to arm-twisting to harass local officials allied with the Liberal Party.  It noted the late decision of the Commission on Elections 2nd Division on the sham recount cases against Bulacan Gov. Joselito Mendoza and Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca. Pampanga Gov. Ed Panlilio is expecting a similar decision on a recount case filed by Lilia Pineda.

01-09-2010