P’sinan town police chief axed over school shooting

LINGAYEN, Philippines – The chief of this town’s police station has been relieved from his post a week after a shooting incident at the Pangasinan National High School that left four persons dead.

Senior Superintendent Reynaldo Biay, officer-in-charge of the provincial police, told The STAR that Superintendent Reynante Panay was transferred to the La Union police office.

Superintendent Gary Garen will take over Panay’s post.

Panay had initiated the filing of four counts of murder and three counts of frustrated murder against Police Officer 3 Domino Alipio, who shot dead teachers Acidello Sison and Linda Sison, both of the PNHS; Florenda Flores, a teacher from the Labrador National High School in Labrador town, and debt collector Jonalito Urayan.

 Flores was Alipio’s alleged agent in extending loans to the teachers of PNHS.

Three other teachers – Ferdinand Entimano, Jovito Jimenez and Juliet Molano – were wounded in the incident.

Last Wednesday, Panay attended a hearing of the House committee on public order, along with Biay, Police Regional Office 1 director Chief Superintendent Roman Felix and Senior Inspector Diomedes Bonales, chief of Anda municipal police, where Alipio was assigned prior to the shooting.

Felix and Bonalos were asked to talk about Alipio as the subject matter was about recent crime incidents involving police officers as suspects. 

Meanwhile Superintendent Ferdinand de Asis, chief of Binmaley town police, was also relieved from his post. He will be replaced by Superintendent Marlo Castillo of the Pangasinan police’s community relations office. 

De Asis’ relief came as a surprise, as he and his men were earlier cited by Mayor Simplicio Rosario for their successful anti-illegal drug operations. He said he would comply with the order.