Sedition raps mulled vs Cavite mayor

The mayor of Bacoor, Cavite could face sedition charges for padlocking his town’s police headquarters Wednesday night, thus hampering police operations in the municipality, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr. said anyone preventing the government or any public officer from performing his official function could be charged with sedition under Article 138 of the Revised Penal Code.

"The PNP legal service is now studying what we can do because it is against the law to prevent any officer from doing his or her function," he told reporters.

Undersecretary Wencelito Andanar of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Castillo could be held liable for grave abuse of authority and gross misconduct.

On Castillo’s orders, the main gate of the Bacoor police headquarters was padlocked at about 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, forcing the local policemen to work outside of their station.

Castillo reportedly ordered the padlocking after learning that Chief Inspector Alex Borja, the municipal police chief, would be relieved allegedly upon the initiative of Sen. Ramon Revilla, whose younger brother, Strike, is planning to run for mayor.

Strike Revilla will be pitted against Castillo’s wife, Minerva, and Edwin Malvar, the incumbent vice mayor.

A known ally of President Arroyo, Castillo also recalled all two-way radios, patrol vehicles and other equipment that his administration has provided the municipal police.

Sen. Revilla, however, belied Castillo’s accusations. "I don’t have any control of the PNP and the Comelec (Commission on Elections). In fact, this is purely a police matter," he said.

Senior Superintendent Fidel Posadas also clarified that Borja’s relief was not in any way related to politics.

Posadas said he recommended to Chief Superintendent Nicasio Radovan Jr., regional police director, that Borja be subjected to summary dismissal proceedings because he tore a page in the police blotter which contained information on the arrest of three suspected drug dealers in Bacoor.

Aside from Borja, at least four Bacoor policemen were also recommended for summary dismissal proceedings for facilitating the release of the suspected drug dealers.

Radovan has yet to act on Posadas’ recommendations though.

Posadas said he sent a 40-man police contingent to Bacoor so as not to disrupt peace and order in the municipality.

In a meeting with acting Gov. Junvic Remulla and Radovan yesterday, Castillo agreed to reopen the police headquarters.

Asked if the mayor would be reprimanded, Remulla said, "I think there is no need to do that."

DILG officials acknowledged though that Castillo helped the administration of President Arroyo in the May 2004 elections.

It was only in Bacoor out of the 20 towns and three cities in Cavite where Mrs. Arroyo won in the presidential election, they said.