Aurora mayor in trouble for humiliating cops

BALER, Aurora, Philippines – This town’s mayor and a councilor, who are facing graft charges before the Office of the Ombudsman along with eight others, are under fire anew for allegedly hurling invectives at police officers.

Four officers of the municipal police accused Mayor Nelianto Bihasa and Councilor Meinardo Tropicales of badmouthing them in public on Sunday.

The officers, led by Police Officer 3 Bernie dela Rosa, said Bihasa and Tropicales called them dumb, fools and pulis patola (clumsy or inefficient) during an incident in Barangay Buhangin.

Records showed Dela Rosa, along with Police Officers 2 Jeoffrey Bolante, Israel Doringo and Dennis Gutierrez responded to a brawl in the village.

When they arrived in the area, Bihasa reportedly yelled and drove them away while calling them dumb.

The lawmen said Bihasa was apparently drunk. 

Tropicales reportedly called them “mga pulis patola.”

Provincial police director Senior Superintendent Danilo Florentino vowed to investigate the incident.

“I will look into the matter to see what really happened,” Florentino said. 

Bihasa, Tropicales and eight other councilors are facing charges for malversation.

The charges stemmed from using the funds of the Sangguniang Bayan to pay for the salaries of job order workers.