The conflict between Escalante City government officials and Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol, regional police director of Western Visayas, has apparently turned from bad to worse after Mayor Melecio Yap allegedly issued an “advice” for the padlocking of the city police station Saturday, after the relief of 11 more policemen assigned at the place.

Senior Supt. Allan Guisihan, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, yesterday said they have already identified some areas in Escalante City to serve as temporary police headquarters, if Yap pushes through the padlocking of the city police station headquarters.

Guisihan, however, said the peace and order situation in Escalante City remains normal. He also debunked reports of a reigning tension brought about the order of Yap to padlock the police station.

He also confirmed the relief of Inspector RolliePondevilla, Escalante deputy police chief, and 10 other policemen that took effect Nov. 22, in compliance with the order of Querol, pending the investigation of allegations linking them to extra-judicial killings in previous years.

Guisihan also said the city government employees have started to recall computers, office equipment, among others, from the Escalante City police station, since Saturday.

Dan Pondevilla, counsel of Yap, yesterday debunked reports that there was an advice from the mayor to padlock the Escalante City police station headquarters. He also said that the properties of the city government, for which memorandum receipts were signed by the 11 relieved Escalante policemen, were only returned to the government. These include air-conditioning units, computer sets and communication radios.

In previous months, three policemen served as security escorts of Yap were relieved by Querol from the Escalante City police station, while their alleged links to the series of killings in Escalante City were being investigated.

Guisihan said the 11 relieved policemen will be replaced today by police troopers from the 6th Regional Public Safety Battalion, and he also debunked reports of the existence of tension in Escalante, because of the apparent friction between the LGU and police.

Pondevilla also criticized Querol for his failure again to consult or inform Yap of his intention to relieve 11 more policemen assigned at the Escalante police force.

There are 53 policemen assigned at the Escalante City police station.

Guisihan assured the 11 relieved policemen of their return to Escalante City, if the probe clears them of any linkages to the killings. He also challenged the accusers of the policemen to present evidences against them.

In his meeting yesterday with the relieved policemen, who have been ordered to report to the Police Regional Office 6 headquarters in Iloilo City effective today, Guisihan told them not to worry, and stressed that “This is for their own good”.

“This is not a punishment, and they are not being singled out,” Guisihan said.

He said the accusers of the 14 policemen, including those relieved in June, identified as SPO1 Angel Sinadjan, SPO1 Rene Anida and SPO1 Heracleo Canete, are afraid to come out while they are still assigned at the Escalante City police station.

Pondevilla, brother of relieved Inspector Rollie Pondevilla, said the members of Sangguniang Panlungsod of Escalante will meet today, to discuss the relief of 11 and the failure of Querol to coordinate with them.

Whatever the decision of the city council, Pondevilla said, Yap will support them.

Querol had earlier justified the transfer of policemen, as not a disciplinary action which requires due process, but a tactical move for the exigency of the service.

The PRO6 has taken over the investigations from the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office of the 18 incidents of alleged extra-judicial killings in Escalante since 2007.

Querol, citing Napolcom memorandum circular no. 93-013, said that while prior consultation with the local chief executive concerned on personnel action is desirable and suggested, it is not mandatory, but merely discretionary on the part of the PNP.

The National Police Commission headed by Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo, in a resolution dated July 15, suspended the administrative and operational control of Yap over the Escalante police station, citing numerous extra-judicial killings in the city, and his alleged close association with the New People’s Army.

Yap, who denied the allegations, said he had not been formally informed of the complaints, and was never given time to defend himself.

It was the confidential report of Querol and the investigations of Napolcom regional director Honey Paredes, that  served as basis for the Napolcom  to suspend the administrative and operational control of Yap over the Escalante police.

However, it has not been enforced yet, pending issuance of the implementing rules and regulations, Guisihan said.*GPB

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