2 Abra cops sacked for partisan politics

MANILA, Philippines - Two policemen were sacked for their alleged involvement in partisan politics by acting as armed escorts of the mayor of La Paz, Abra during the last day of voter’s registration on Wednesday. 

Chief Superintendent Benjamin Magalong, Cordillera police director, identified the two policemen as PO3 Raymund Palope and PO2 Jithelo Panigan Tuazon, both VIP security personnel assigned to Mayor Joseph Bernos.

“We will not allow our policemen to be used by anybody to protect their dubious activities and political interests whether they are incumbent or powerful political leaders of any political party,” Magalong said.

Magalong said Tuazon was found in possession of an MP5 sub-machine pistol with a magazine and 28 live bullets allegedly owned by the La Paz municipal government, and a .45-caliber pistol and a magazine loaded with seven bullets.

According to reports, Bernos arrived at the vicinity of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Dolores town with a number of companions who were supposed to register as voters to beat the deadline last Wednesday.

While inside the Comelec office, Bernos allegedly had a verbal tussle with Armando Bernardino, the municipal registrar of Dolores, over the alleged refusal of the poll body to register bona fide residents of Barangay Isit, Dolores.

Bernos then allegedly engaged Dolores Mayor Robert Victor Seares Jr. in a verbal tussle, too, prompting Seares to ask Chief Inspector Gil Imado of the Abra Provincial Public Safety Company and Senior Inspector Ricky Dangioan, Dolores police chief, to intervene.

While at the scene, responding policemen saw Palope and Tuazon in Bernos’ company and immediately disarmed them to prevent any untoward incident. 

“The relief of our policemen just shows our firm commitment to achieve lasting peace in Abra and that the incident may serve as a wake-up call to Abra politicians to start employing peaceful means of campaigning in order to win and not to harass voters just to stay in power,” Magalong added.