Makati precinct chief sacked

MANILA, Philippines - The commander of a police precinct in Makati City was relieved from his post yesterday following the theft of a vehicle owned by a cousin of former senator Manuel Roxas II.

National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Nicanor Bartolome ordered the relief of Chief Inspector Alex Fulgar, chief of the police community precinct (PCP) of Makati City, citing the responsibility of the police commander where the carjacking took place.

Bartolome pointed out that Fulgar has jurisdiction over De la Rosa Street in Legaspi Village where two armed men took the Toyota Land Cruiser (plate no. ATG 747) owned by Margarita Araneta-Fores, a cousin of Roxas.

“The area is a busy commercial area and he failed to curb the criminal incidents there,” Bartolome said.

Bartolome also directed Southern Police District (SPD) director Chief Superintendent Jose Arne de los Santos and Makati City police chief Senior Superintendent Froilan Bonifacio to explain why they failed to be vigilant in preventing further vehicle thefts amid the increasing cases of “test drive” killings.

Bonifacio, on the other hand, said they are trying to get leads from CCTV footage where the carjacking took place.

Bonifacio said they have already requested for a copy of CCTV tapes from the business establishments in the area.

The Makati police also invited a security guard, whose name was not made available, who reportedly saw how Fores’ vehicle was forcibly taken from her driver Roberto Villanueva.

Some police officials, however, were skeptical about the relief of Fulgar, saying that Bartolome relieved only a “small fry.”

“The carjacking incident that led to the killing of two car dealers and a driver happened in Quezon City but he (Bartolome) has yet to lift his finger on the erring police officials,” a senior police official said.

The police official noted that Bartolome and Quezon City Police District director Chief Superintendent Benjardi Mantele are both from Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class ’80.

Aside from the killing of two car dealers and a driver, some Quezon City policemen are also involved in the kidnap attempt of an Indian national in Pasay City, the police official said.

“Fulgar was relieved because the relative of Roxas was involved,” he added.

The official accused the Philippine National Police leadership of being selective in imposing punishment. –With Jose Rodel Clapano