THE National Police Commission (Napolcom) clarified on Friday, November 24, that not all the local officials who were stripped of their power over the police in their areas of jurisdiction have been linked to illegal drugs.
“The resolutions from the Napolcom were clear, as they stated the basis for the withdrawal of the deputation powers of the local officials. It was not solely about drug-related issues,” said Napolcom vice-chairman and executive officer Rogelio Casurao in a statement.
Casurao said he is making the clarification following a query from Zamboanga del Sur Representative Aurora Cerilles, the wife of Governor Antonio Cerilles who was among the local executives who were stripped of police powers.
A resolution dated October 30 which was signed by Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge and Napolcom chairman Catalino Cuy withdrew the deputation of the 18 mayors and a governor after the validation conducted by the intelligence agencies concerned confirmed their involvement on illegal drugs activities in their areas of responsibility.
Among the mayors included were Crisinciano Mahilac of Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental; Michael Gutierrez of Lopez Jaena, Misamis Occidental; Donjie Animas of Sapang Dalaga, Misamis Occidental; Jason Almonte of Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental; Juanidy Viña of Concepcion, Misamis Occidental; Ezel Villanueva of Calamba, Misamis Occidental; Ferdinand Aguinaldo of Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte; Andres Lacson of Concepcion, Tarlac; Edgardo Pamintuan of Angeles, Pampanga; Jefferson Khonghun of Subic, Zambales; Erlon Agustin of Camiling, Tarlac; Mariano Blanco of Ronda, Cebu; Pablo Matinong Jr. of Santo Niño, South Cotabato; Christopher Cuan of Libungan, North Cotabato; Albert Palencia of Banga, South Cotabato; Leonida Angcap of Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur; Niever Cabunalda-Rosento of El Nido, Palawan; and Abraham Ibba of Bataraza, Palawan.
Casurao said there are “specific and detailed” grounds for each local official.
In the case of Cerilles, he said the ground was the “receipt of a confidential report outlining the abuse of authority committed.”
Cuy echoed Casurao’s statement. He said other grounds include frequent unauthorized absences, providing material support to criminal elements engaging in acts inimical to national security or which negate the effectiveness of the peace and order campaign.
“The public must be made aware that the confidential reports which formed the basis for the withdrawal of deputation were gathered by different intelligence agencies, thereby giving them a high degree of reliability,” he said. (VoxPop Philippines)
