Mayor seeks exemption, cites NPA threats

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Mayor Neptali Salcedo of Sara town in Iloilo, despite his opposition to the Police Regional Office-6's suspension of permits to carry gun, may have acknowledged justification of the order after he applied for an exemption.

In his letter to PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo dated July 8 or one day after the suspension of permit to carry firearms outside of residence (PTCFOR) was announced, Salcedo asked that he would be exempted "due to perennial threats of the NPA and other lawless criminals in these areas due to out massive campaign against insurgency and criminalities."

Besides claiming that his life and security are in danger, the mayor also requested similar exemptions to the following:

Vice Mayor Neptali Salcedo, Jr., Iloilo Provincial Board Member Jeneda Salcedo-Orendain, former councilor Jesus Salcedo who is now Sara's consultant for barangay affairs, former councilor member Noel Salcedo, Municipal Council secretary James Balsomo I, and Sara legal officer James Balsomo II.

"I firmly believe that your good office may also warrant the security of these people who are faithfully supporting in the enforcement of law and peace and order in the country," Salcedo said in his letter to Bacalzo.

Bacalzo has yet to approve the exemption, but PRO-6 director Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol, Jr., in a press conference, said the justifications of applicants for exemption were clear admission of peace and order concerns in their towns.

Salcedo's reason for an exemption rebuts the arguments of those who oppose the suspension of PTCFOR enforced in the towns of Ajuy, Balasan, Batad, Carles, Concepcion, Estancia, Sara and San Dionisio from July 11 this year to January 15, 2012.

"The main reason of the Mayor Salcedo's request for exemption only proves that there is really an existence of lawless elements in the eight northern Iloilo towns, which was denied by some politicians and other influential personalities in the area to counter the implementation of the suspension of PTCFOR," Querol said.

Querol commended the recent development claiming that what they did was "just right and proper because it was Bacalzo who approved the suspension order and only he who has the authority to grant such request."

Earlier, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. succeeded in pushing the provincial officials and members of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Iloilo Chapter to unanimously agree to a resolution for the recall of the PTCFOR suspension in the eight towns in the northern part of Iloilo province. (FREEMAN)