12 police chiefs reshuffled as Cagayan special poll nears

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – All the municipal police chiefs in Cagayan’s second congressional district where a special election is slated on March 12 have been relieved from their posts to avoid suspicions of bias due to their familiarity with local politicians.

The temporary reshuffle of the 12 municipal police chiefs in the second district was in compliance with a Commission on Elections (Comelec) resolution, police officials said.

“Such a move would remove speculations that our police officers are playing politics because of their familiarity with certain local officials,” said Senior Superintendent Mao Aplasca, Cagayan police director.  

The Comelec also took over from the police the supervision over the firearms ban throughout Cagayan as the special election nears.

Comprising the second district are the towns of Lasam, Abulug, Allacapan, Ballesteros, Claveria, Pamplona, Piat, Rizal, Sanchez Mira, Santa Praxedes, Santo Niño and Calayan Island. 

“Instead of only the second district, the Comelec (put) the entire province under its control, including the existing firearms ban,” Aplasca said. 

A Camp Crame-imposed gun ban has been in effect throughout Cagayan since November last year following the failed slay try on Tuguegarao City Mayor Delfin Ting and a number of killings.

The Cagayan second district congressional post was left vacant following the death of Rep. Florencio Vargas in June last year or a week before the opening of the 15th Congress. 

Contesting the post in the special poll are former governor Edgar Lara of the Liberal Party and Vargas’ daughter, Abulug town Vice Mayor Baby Aline Vargas-Alfonso of Lakas-Kampi-CMD.