PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos yesterday ordered the relief of all personnel of the Pilar municipal police station in Abra after the town and the province of Misamis Occidental were added to the list of areas under Commission on Elections (Comelec) control.
Carlos issued the order on the recommendation of Comelec Chairman Saidamen Pangarungan during the command conference at the PNP national headquarters in Camp Crame.
Carlos said he has ordered CAR police director Brig. Gen. Ronald Lee to relieve all the Pilar police personnel.
“That police station has about 20 to 30 personnel. The personnel can be easily replaced,” said Carlos, noting the PNP has reserved personnel in the region who are familiar with Pilar.
“That is not going to be problem. We can easily adjust,” said Carlos.
The command conference was held shortly after the ceremonial sendoff of uniformed personnel who will perform duties in connection with the national and local elections on May 9.
During the sendoff ceremony, Pangarungan announced the addition of Pilar and Misamis Occidental in the list of areas under Comelec control.
Pangarungan said he declared Misamis Occidental under Comelec control upon the recommendation of the Regional Joint Security Control Center in Northern Mindanao, composed of Comelec, military and police officials.
In the case of Pilar, Pangarungan said he “affirmatively acted” to place the town under Comelec control on the recommendation of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) election director Ederlino Tabilas and on the request of the local government unit.
“These areas have been riddled with election related violence as we approach the May 9 election. The Comelec will not stand idly by while this is happening,” said Pangarungan.
In a press briefing after the command conference, Pangarungan said he recommended the relief of some officials so the declaration of areas under Comelec control will be more effective
Pangarungan said police and military officials in Abra had said there was no need to declare Pilar under Comelec control “because the peace and order condition there is okay.”
Last March, bodyguards of re-electionist Pilar Vice Mayor Jaja Josefina Disono figured in a shootout with policemen, leading to the death of one of Disono’s men.
Disono’s bodyguards reportedly disregarded and rammed a police checkpoint, injuring two policemen. They later opened fire at the pursuing policemen, leading to the shootout.
“But later on, just recently, I received confidential reports from our regional election officer, Atty. Tabilas, and also the petition (of the) local government unit in Pilar, disclosing the apparent bias of the local police, the detachment in Pilar, Abra,” said Pangarungan.
“Also, there are threats and intimidations to some supporters of certain candidates in Pilar,” added Pangarungan.
He also said there were cases of threats and intimidations by private armed groups to certain candidates in the town.
“Even the mayor, vice mayor, and councilors, they are almost hiding because they feel they cannot be protected by the local police detachment of Pilar,” Pangarungan.
“My recommendation (to the PNP) is to relieve the entire police force in Pilar and that will include the include the chief of police… It’s okay as long the entire (personnel of the) detachment in Pilar will be replaced so that we will have a peaceful, orderly and honest election,” said Pangarungan.
