Baquerfo asks Ombuds to suspend Tudela cops

CEBU - Tudela mayor-elect Rogelio Baquerfo is calling on the Ombudsman to preventively suspend the police officers he has sued to prevent them from “creating further damage.”

In an interview, Baquerfo said the preventive suspension is necessary because the police officers allegedly remain defiant.

Baquerfo earlier filed criminal and administrative complaints against 17 respondents, including SPO3 Edison Torres, SPO1 Rito Estremos, SPO4 Sulpicio Muntuerto, SPO4 Luifran Plaza and PO1 Flordeliz Contratista.

Baquerfo alleged that the police officers along with eight department heads and four education personnel denied an order he issued on June 25, 2008, which directed them to abide by his orders because Granada’s assumption to office was still premature.

The complaints were the first among the string of cases Baquerfo filed since July since a court recount declared Mayor Demetrio Granada as the winner of last year’s elections by 13 votes.

For his part, however, Cebu Provincial Police Director Carmelo Valmoria said the police officers cannot be suspended because the province’s police force already lacks personnel. Valmoria said the serious situation in Tudela needs able-bodied personnel.

Valmoria said the legal department of the provincial police is still going over the complaints filed by Baquerfo to determine which areas can be given legal assistance.   — Ferliza C. Contratista/JMO (THE FREEMAN)