Dagupan City police chief ‘cleared’ in jueteng probe

DAGUPAN CITY — There’s a big reason for Superintendent Noli Taliño to be elated.

He’s back to his post as the city’s police chief after he was "virtually cleared" in an investigation over the reported existence of jueteng in his jurisdiction. He earlier voluntarily quit his post to give way to the inquiry.

"I’m very happy. I assume that I am cleared although there is no final resolution yet regarding my case since there were several bodies that conducted the probe," he said.

Last April, 10, Taliño, together with then Senior Superintendent Arturo Cacdac Jr., Pangasinan police director, and three other police chiefs were placed under investigation by the National Police Commission (Napolcom).

The inquiry stemmed from the "three-strike rule" of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina Jr., meaning that if the anti-gambling Task Force Jericho conducted three successful raids against jueteng in a certain area, the police chief who has jurisdiction there faces the ax.

With his re-assumption, Taliño said his name has been cleared. "I don’t know how to express my feelings," he said.

Taliño got back to his post last Monday. Superintendent Nelson Vidal, who temporarily assumed as Dagupan City police chief, presided over the simple turnover ceremony.

Taliño said he would concentrate on issues that need utmost concern like illegal drugs. He also vowed that there would be "no let-up in our campaign (against) illegal gambling."

"For the past one year and eight months, I have served Dagupan City with dignity and enthusiasm. I’ll do it again and even better this time," he said.

Meanwhile, Pangasinan has a new police director in the person of Senior Superintendent Mario Sandiego, who took over from Senior Superintendent Dominador Ventura, who acted as officer-in-charge following Cacdac’s removal.