Chiong to pull out support from police if chief relieved

CEBU, Philippines - Naga City Mayor Valdemar Chiong threatened to pull out support from the local police if city police chief Supt. Renato Malazarte will be transferred to another area. But Chiong said if Malazarte’s transfer is inevitable then he wants to have additional police personnel in exchange.

He said if Cebu Provincial Police office chief Carmelo Valmoria cannot give him additional policemen and Malazarte will be transferred, he might no longer support the local police.

“Grabe akong suporta sa atong mga pulis diri, ako na silang gihatagan og office supplies, 10 litros nga gasoline kada adlaw, 500 pesos ilang allowance kada buwan ug uban pa ako pa ganing dungagan ilang hand-held radio,” Chiong said.

He added that he is satisfied with the service of Malazarte and the main problem is the lack of police personnel.

There are only 28 policemen, including Malazarte, serving the city’s more than 94,000 constituents, but despite this Chiong said that he said Malazarte is doing well.

Earlier, Valmoria said not only Malazarte will be transferred but other officers in the province. Under National Police Commission rules and regulations, a normal stay in any assignment should only be two years. Malazarte has served Naga for seven years.

It was only after several gambling machines were seized in different barangays in Naga City last month that the CPPO started talking of transferring Malazarte.

Valmoria, however, was quick to dismiss allegations that the transfer was due to Malazarte’s alleged involvement in illegal gambling machine operations. He also added that they do not want that their officers to stay stagnant in one position.

The names of three probable replacements have been forward to Chiong, these are 703rd Provincial Mobile Group commanding officer Supt. Anthony Baraginao, CPPO Police Community Relations chief Supt. Eduardo Saavedra and Danao City police station chief Supt. Larson Dechino. — Christopher Gabriel Bonjoc/BRP   (THE FREEMAN)