Compostela chief quits

CEBU, Philippines - Compostela Police Station officer-in-charge Senior Insp. Rodrigo Giangan tendered his resignation yesterday following last week’s incident when supporters of Mayor-elect Joel Quiño stormed the municipal hall.

Giangan, who assumed the position last year, submitted his resignation letter to Department of Interior and Local Government director Pedro Noval yesterday stating last week’s event as the reason for his resign.

The OIC claimed that even if he offered his resignation, he still has to follow further directives and orders of Cebu Provincial Police Office director Patrocinio Comendador as his head officer.

“Kung desisyon ni PD (Provincial Director) nga mupadayon ko, padayon ko I’ll follow his orders,” he said in an interview.

In a separate interview, Comendador said he will relieve Giangan as soon as they can find a replacement.

“It’s hard for him to work if he is no longer comfortable with the situation with Noval as the OIC,” he said.

Noval, who is also the OIC of Compostela while there is yet no mayor, got angry after four men destroyed the padlock used in the main door of the Compostela municipal hall last Wednesday.

Mayor-elect Joel Quiños’s supporters; Edgar Pasaol, Junrey Lucero, Eddie Soronio, of barangay Bagalnga and Dennis Quiros, of barangay Magay allegedly destroyed the padlock and forcibly entered the municipal hall.

Giangan said it was about 9 a.m. when he received information about the incident.

People were already in the lobby of the building when they arrived together with the Special Reaction Unit.

In an interview over TV Patrol Central Visayas, Noval said he can do nothing but to accept Giangan’s resignation.

“Nalikayan man unta to kung nagmatngon ug gihugtan ang security,” he said. (FREEMAN)