Panlilio to choose new police head

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – Central Luzon police director Chief Superintendent Leonilo de la Cruz said yesterday the Senior Officers Placement and Promotions Board is set to submit three nominees from whom Gov. Eddie Panlilio can choose the new Pampanga police director.

De la Cruz told The STAR there is no need to act on Panlilio’s petition to oust provincial police director Senior Superintendent Keith Singian who will end his two-year term in Pampanga on Jan. 11.

He, however, said he has tasked the regional police investigation and detective management group based at Camp Olivas to investigate Panlilio’s allegation that Singian failed to do his job during the “siege” by rallyists on the provincial capitol last Monday.

De la Cruz told Singian and other police officers to refrain from issuing any statements in reaction to Panlilio’s accusation that they were incompetent in dealing with the incident.

Truckers protesting new anti-overloading requirements and dismissed quarry workers reached the second floor of the capitol building, and kicked open the door to Panlilio’s office and banged on the locked door of provincial administrator Vivian Dabu.

In a statement, the Kaya Natin Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership to which Panlilio belongs, lamented the “disregard for the rule of law” of the rallyists who it said “endangered the lives” of the governor and Dabu.   – With Cecille Suerte Felipe