Iligan mayor files complaint vs Region 10 police director

Regencia and the city council withdrew its support for the city police office, and took back all the patrol cars that the local government had "entrusted" to them for their use.

ILIGAN CITY - City Mayor Celso Gomera Regencia bared plans to file a complaint against Philippine National Police (PNP) Region 10 Director Chief Supt. Timoteo G. Pacleb before the Office of the Ombudsman for grave abuse of authority for ordering the relief of former Iligan City Police Director Sr. Supt. Manuel Sukarno Alvarez.  

Regencia said he will be filing the complaint after Pacleb allegedly disregarded his preference for Alvarez to be named city police director.

"Dili ako ang nag-abusar sa akong gahum kundi sila" (It's not me who abuses my power but them)," he averred.

Last September 21, Pacleb sent a letter to Regencia, referring a memorandum from the PNP Directorate for Personnel and Record Management (TDPRM), dated September 11, which endorsed the recommendation of the PNP Chief as Iligan City police director.

The memorandum also said the PNP Chief recommendee should come from a list of eligible police commissioned officers (PCOs), which included Alvarez.

On October 2, Regencia said he replied to Pacleb to inform him that he had chosen Alvarez to be designated as full-time Iligan City police director.

But on October 29, the mayor said he received a copy of a letter from TFPRM to Pacleb, terminating the designation of Alvarez of Iligan City police director, designating Sr. Supt. Rene Pinzon Solidarious as his replacement in an acting capacity.

Alvarez was reportedly relieved on the grounds that his performance was "below-par, and sub-standard."

Regencia alleged that Solidarious' name was not in the list of recommendees for Iligan City Police Chief from which he was made to choose from.

According to the mayor, the PNP violated its own rules by giving the position to another man whose name was not included in the list.

He added that he was aware of his limitation as the city's chief executive, and precisely followed the rule when he chose from the five contenders to the post.

Regencia underscored that he was going to bring the matter to the Office of the Ombudsman to "give a lesson that no one is above the law."

Regencia said he was defending Alvarez because he had just assumed office as officer-in-charge, and has not been able to prove his full potential as an effective commander.

He noted that Alvarez was able to ensure that the month-long celebration of the Diyandi Festival last September was not marked by any untoward incident.

"Kung sakto pa, nagpadala unta sila'g lain nga listahan sa lima kung dili nila gusto si Alvarez nga akong gipili para mahimong full time CD dili kay relief order" (If that is right, they should send another list of five if they don't like Alvarez (who) I chose to be the full time CD, and not a relief order," Regencia said.

Earlier, Regencia and the city council withdrew its support for the city police ofice, and took back all the patrol cars that the local government had "entrusted" to them for their use.

However, Regencia clarified that the reason for the withdrawal was only for the purpose of making an inventory so that the incoming ICPO commander would be made aware of all the support the local government has been given to the police.

Meanwhile, Pacleb acknowledged the support of the Iligan City government, and said that Regencia was the most supportive local chief executive here in Mindanao compared to others.

"Napakalaki pong naitulong ni mayor sa kapulisan especially in terms of equipment, supplies and lahat na support mayor Regencia, he takes care of our law enforcers very well," Pacleb said. [Bonita Ermac, Manila Bulletin]