Isabela police chief sacked for failure to block pro-Estrada forces

SANTIAGO, CITY – For refusing to heed orders to put up barricades at the height of the pro-Estrada uprising, this city’s police chief has been relieved on orders of Philippine National Police chief Director General Leandro Mendoza.

Chief Superintendent Dominador Resos Jr., Cagayan Valley police director, served the other day the relief order on this city’s police chief, Superintendent Alexander Rafael, who had reportedly defied the order to set up barricades at the height of the pro-Estrada rebellion in Metro Manila.

The barricades or checkpoints were supposed to monitor possible troop movements supporting the uprising and to keep Estrada loyalists from slipping out from the region and joining the uprising.

The cause of Rafael’s relief was not officially disclosed here, but a ranking police officer in the region confirmed that the relieved police officer apparently got the ire of his superiors for failing to heed the directive.

Because of Rafael’s failure to heed the order, hundreds of pro-Estrada contingent reportedly slipped from the region and joined the Estrada crowd at Edsa. They were reportedly sent by some Cagayan Valley politicians, among them Cauayan City Mayor Faustino "Bodjie" Dy III, scion of the powerful Dy clan of Isabela who are noted political allies of then President Estrada. — Charles Lagerea