Mayor wants Digal out as CPPO director

CEBU, Philippines - Medellin Mayor Ricardo Ramirez is asking Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to relieve Sr. Supt. Erson Digal as director of the Cebu Provincial Police Office for allegedly refusing to heed his request to conduct paraffin test on the cadaver of his former aide.

Digal got the ire of Ramirez when he tagged the latter as suspect in the death of Edelberto Abao.

Ramirez also did not like that his police chief, Sr. Insp. Bonifacio Arriesgado, was relieved after the incident because of his failure to immediately report it to the provincial headquarters.

Ramirez said he trusted Arriesgado because he was always around unlike his replacement.

According to Ramirez, Arriesgado lives in the nearby town of Daanbantayan that is why he is always available.

Ramirez said that Sr. Insp. Danilo Delantar whom Digal has replaced with Arriesgado has been absent since January 15. According to him, he was told that Delantar filed a leave of absence until February 25.

Ramirez also complained about Digal’s alleged refusal to heed his request to conduct paraffin test on Abao.

Ramirez earlier declined a paraffin test admitting that he would be tested positive because he and Abao were firing a gun a day before the alleged shooting incident.

He lamented that on the basis of his refusal to submit to the paraffin test Digal already tagged him as suspect without getting his side first. – (FREEMAN)