Ilocos cop chief on Eriguel slay: Don’t blame us

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines — The police should not be blamed for the pullout of the security detail of the family of former La Union congressman Eufranio Eriguel who was killed in a gun attack on May 12, Chief Superintendent Romulo Sapitula, regional police director, said yesterday. 

The pullout of police escorts of politicians was in compliance with a presidential directive and a memorandum from Camp Crame in connection with the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections, Sapitula told The STAR.

Eriguel’s widow La Union Rep. Sandra Eriguel blamed Sapitula for the withdrawal of their police escorts a few days before her husband was killed.

The congresswoman said Sapitula ordered the pullout of their escorts despite “active threats on our lives.”

“He is not entitled to security because he is not incumbent and he was identified as a narco politician by no less than President Duterte,” Sapitula said, referring to the slain congressman.

 “That applied to all, not only to them because the police... would safeguard the suffrage of the people durin the election period,” Sapitula said.  

“I did not pull out (their security detail) because of my whims  and caprices,” he added.

Sapitula assured the family of the slain congressman that the police is doing its best to resolve the killing.

The former congressman was addressing candidates of barangay and SK elections in Barangay Capas when he was gunned down. His two bodyguards were also killed when they tried to shield him.