Tuguegarao mayor decries police chief's relief

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – The mayor of Cagayan’s capital, Tuguegarao City, who survived an attempt on his life last month, has decried the recent relief of the city police chief, whom he said still enjoys the trust and confidence of the city government.

Mayor Delfin Ting, back in his office after almost two weeks of hospital confinement due to a bullet wound he sustained in the attack, said they were not even consulted on the relief of Superintendent Eliseo Tanding.

“It seems the police already stripped us of any authority when they relieved him without extending the basic courtesy of consulting us first. As if (the police) can already do anything they want,” he said.

“If that’s the case, then it’s better for us not to meddle in their affairs. Anyway, it’s their foremost responsibility to maintain peace and order and it’s their lookout if they failed us,” he added.

Tanding’s relief came two weeks after Ting was shot in front of the family-owned Hotel Delfino in the city’s downtown area last Nov. 15. Ting survived with a bullet wound in the cheek from a caliber .22 pistol. 

Ting’s son, Cagayan third district Rep. Randolph Ting, said the attempt on his father’s life could have something to do with politics. 

Following Tanding’s replacement by Superintendent Pedro Martirez in an acting capacity, the city government immediately recalled all patrol vehicles and other equipment it had issued to the city police.

Among those recalled were six patrol vehicles, three motorcycles, three computers, three base radios, several handheld radios, and two air-conditioning units. 

Ting though said they recalled the vehicles and equipment for inventory purposes. 

Meanwhile, Dr. Raul Ting, another son of the mayor, denied reports that his father’s bodyguards were caught with firearms at the domestic airport here that led to Tanding’s relief as city police chief.

“We categorically deny that the aides of my father carried any unauthorized firearms. If indeed there were firearms these should have been confiscated and cases of illegal possession of firearms should have been filed,” Dr. Raul Ting told The STAR.

Tanding was alleged to have been lax with the mayor’s bodyguards, as he reportedly allowed them to carry firearms despite the total gun ban imposed in the province.

The gun ban was imposed amid the spate of unsolved political killings, compounded by the slay try on Mayor Ting last Nov. 15.

“The incident at the airport was provoked by a report made by one of the aides of (former congressman Manuel) Mamba and the aides of my father were bodily searched right there. As there were no guns found, Tanding, of course, scolded the Mamba aide who made the accusation,” the young Ting said.

Mamba was defeated by Dr. Ting’s elder brother, Randolph, in the third congressional district race last May.

Regional police director Francisco Villaroman said Tanding’s relief as Tuguegarao police chief was purely an administrative move, as the latter had “overstayed” in his position.

He said Tanding was instead promoted as deputy director for operations of the regional police. – With Raymund Catindig