Aglipay, mayors settle differences

Chief Superintendent Edgar Aglipay will stay on as chief of the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO).

This developed after Interior and Local Government Secretary Alfredo Lim tactfully convinced Metro Manila mayors to rescind their petition seeking to oust Aglipay from his post due to the latter's failure to consult them before relieving police chiefs assigned to local government units.

At first, the two-hour meeting held in Hotel Rembrandt and presided over by Lim between Philippine National Police (PNP) officials led by PNP chief Deputy Director General Panfilo Lacson and the Metro Manila mayors led by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Jejomar Binay appeared emotional.

For one, Lacson, in defense of Aglipay's decision to relieve several chiefs of police in Metro Manila, said it was not something personal.

"It is intended to make the PNP's campaign to rid itself of misfits and scalawags effective," Lacson said.

Marikina Mayor Bayani Fernando, one of the Metro mayors who initiated the move to oust Aglipay, said that the mayors are merely invoking their right to be informed or consulted when chiefs of police in their locality are to be sacked.

"Aglipay is merely consequent here. It is not a matter of saying sorry. This is not something personal for us. We, the mayors, merely want PNP officials to respect us the way we deserve to be respected. It is not a `sorry' that we want to get from here but to have this thing not happening again," Fernando said.

Fernando insisted that Aglipay did not accord Metro mayors the proper courtesy when he "unilaterally" relieved certain chiefs of police without consulting the mayors. "We just learned of the relief of our police chiefs through the newspapers," Fernando said.

But Aglipay, who appeared to be apologetic even at the start of the meeting, said that he will do his best to further improve his performance as chief of the NCRPO for the interest of the people, to jibe with what the mayors are asking for from the PNP.

At least three Metro mayors namely Ismael Mathay Jr., Lito Atienza and Ricardo Papa Jr., said that they did not sign the petition seeking to oust Aglipay.

"I'm against the move to oust Aglipay. I did not actually join the meeting because I'm happy with Aglipay's performance. Sacking him from his post would send a wrong signal to everybody," Atienza said.

The meeting ended with Binay, who was earlier accused by Lacson of manipulating the signature campaign against Aglipay, shaking hands with Lacson and Aglipay himself.

Lim, the mayors, Lacson and Aglipay have agreed to a regular meeting every month where the local chief executives can air grievances and problems in their communities.

"This is just a communication gap. The petition of the mayors has been thrown out the window already. There was no intention on the part of the PNP to slight the mayors. So to prevent the occurrence of the same situation, every month we will have a meeting where the mayors and the PNP can consult each other regarding their problems," Lim said. Binay will host the first meeting next month.

Meanwhile, Lacson blamed a chief of police who was earlier removed from his post by Aglipay as the one who instigated the misunderstanding.

Lacson was obviously referring to former Pasig police chief Superintendent Raul Medina, who was removed from his post after his men were caught literally sleeping while on duty.

The other mayors who attended the meeting were Jose Capco of Pateros, Jovito Claudio of Pasay City, Vicente Eusebio of Pasig City, Benhur Abalos of Mandaluyong City, Amado Vicencio of Malabon, and Vergel Aguilar of Las Piñas.