Maliksi assails relief of Cavite police director

MANILA, Philippines - Cavite Gov. Erineo “Ayong” Maliksi has assailed what he described as an “unlawful” change in the police leadership of his vote-rich province, saying this could lead to a disruption of the May 10 polls.

At a press conference in Makati City, Maliksi, a member of the Liberal Party, expressed his fear that with the relief of Senior Superintendent Alfred Corpus as provincial police director, some political forces could use the local police.

“I now fear that the police, instead of helping the provincial government prevent cheating in the polls, will be used instead to cheat,” he said in Filipino.

Corpus was relieved from his post last Jan. 7 and was replaced by Senior Superintendent Primitivo Tabujara as officer-in-charge.

Maliksi said the move by the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police to relieve Corpus and designate Tabujara was illegal, as he was not consulted on the matter, as mandated in the Local Government Code.

Maliksi also said Corpus’ relief was not done in coordination with the Commission on Elections, which imposed a ban on the transfer of government employees during the election period.

However, Chief Superintendent Leonardo Espina, PNP spokesman, clarified that Corpus was relieved as Cavite police director days before the election period began on Jan. 10.

Espina added that Tabujara was only installed as officer-in-charge, and as such, his designation need not have Maliksi’s approval.

“It is just a temporary position. The local government is only involved in the selection of a permanent provincial police director,” he said.

Espina earlier said that prior to the election period, the PNP had reshuffled police officials in several provinces to prevent familiarity between local police directors and government officials, especially candidates.

But Maliksi disputed, saying he was not familiar with Corpus who was appointed on Aug. 21 last year.

Espina dared Maliksi to show proof of his allegation that the elections in Cavite would be disrupted with the change in the provincial police leadership.

“We deny his allegations as there is no truth to these. We respectfully request the good governor to show proof to substantiate his allegations,” he said.

On Jan. 8, Maliksi filed a petition for nullity of Corpus’ transfer order. He also filed a petition for the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) before the Imus regional trial court (RTC).

That same day, the court issued a 72-hour TRO effective Jan. 11. Despite this, Maliksi said the DILG and the PNP enforced Corpus’ relief on Jan. 11.

On Jan. 19, the Dasmariñas RTC Branch 90 ordered the reinstatement of Corpus as Cavite police director.

Despite the status quo ante order, Maliksi said the DILG and the PNP still refused to restore Corpus to his former post.

Last Jan. 25, Maliksi filed a petition for indirect contempt against DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno, PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa, Tabujara and Chief Superintendent Catalino Cuy for their alleged continued defiance of the court’s status quo ante order.