Digal says Loot kept hands off Daanbantayan police operations

CEBU, Philippines - The director of Cebu Provincial Police Office Sr. Supt. Erson Digal said that Police Regional Office-7 deputy regional director for operations Sr. Supt. Vicente Loot did not intervene in the police operations in Daanbantayan as claimed in the allegations of the political opponent of Loot’s wife, Vice Mayor Maria Luisa Loot.

Digal said yesterday he did not receive any reports from his men that Sr. Supt. Loot manipulated police operations in Daanbantayan.

However he clarified, that if others still wish to file a formal complaint in his office against Loot they will still investigate it.

Digal also denied the allegation of bias from mayoralty bet Agusto Corro against Police Regional Office-7 Chief Supt. Lani-o Nerez.

The camp of Corro alleged earlier that the decision of Nerez not to transfer Loot is disadvantageous on their part.

Digal said that it is not up to Nerez but higher headquarter in Camp Crame and the Commission on Elections to transfer officials because of the upcoming national and local elections.

Vice Mayor Loot and her son, Mayor Sun Shimura, already filed the request for police escorts and a threat assessment is set to be conducted by the police.

Argao Mayor Edcel Galleos has also filed a similar request while Bogo mayoralty candidate Mariquita Salimbangon-Yeung received the approval of the Comelec regarding hers. -Gabriel C. Bonjoc/BRP   (FREEMAN NEWS)