Comar cries foul over transfer of personnel

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Fire Marshall Aderson Comar said yesterday he feels “harassed” by the transfer of 26 members of the Bureau of Fire Protection Special Reaction Unit from Cebu City to Lapu-Lapu City.

The 26 members of the BFP Special Reaction Unit were the first to respond to the fast craft Weesam 8 when it ran aground the south entrance channel of Cebu last Saturday.

It was BFP Regional Director Ma. Luisa Hadjula who ordered the reassignment of the 26 members of the rescue and medical team to Lapu-Lapu.

“Kay dili man siya kadulot nako mao nga ang ako na lang mga tawo maoy iyang gipang-pullout. Makaingon ta nga iya ko nga gipiangan,” Comar told reporters after his meeting with members of the Police Coordinating Advisory Council (PCAC) at the City Hall yesterday.

The Freeman called the BFP office yesterday afternoon, but was told that Hadjula had already left. Personnel at the office also refused to give any contact number.

Comar said the SRU members would have been more effective if they continued to be stationed in Cebu City, considering that there are more emergency situations here. Besides, they could respond to emergency cases in Lapu-Lapu City just the same, he said.

“Mas daghan man ang emergency situations dinhi sa mainland,” Comar said.

The 26 fire personnel were originally assigned with the BFP regional office, but were transferred to Cebu City under Comar who has knowledge on rescue operations.

However, after Comar exposed the alleged questionable activities of some BFP personnel and asked the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to investigate them, Hadjula allegedly started treating him differently.

Comar asked the anti-graft body to look into the actuations of three fire inspectors who inspected a newly-constructed building at the IT Park and issued a Fire Safety Inspection Certificate (FSIC) even if the building had not complied with requirements.

Comar said that during a flag-raising ceremony, Hadjula reportedly announced that she would pull more personnel from under his command. – (FREEMAN)