Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol, regional police director of Western Visayas, justified the relief of three policemen from the Escalante City Police Station, who used to be detailed as security escorts of Mayor Melecio Yap.

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 Escalante City Sangguniang Panlungsod had earlier condemned Querol for what they called his “unreasonable, discourteous and illegal action” of re-assigning three police personnel assigned in the city to Iloilo.

In a resolution it approved at its regular session on June 29, the SP slammed Querol for the relief of SPO1 Angel Sinadjan, SPO1 Rene Anida and SPO1 Heracleo Canete from the Escalante City police station and their transfer to Iloilo on June 8, without any coordination and courtesy to Yap, and due process for the affected police officers.

In his letter to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental, Querol claimed that the continued stay of the three policemen with the Escalante City Police Station would greatly affect the conduct of a fair and impartial investigation of the alleged extra-judicial killings in the city from 2007 to 2010, and the delivery of public safety services.

Senior Supt. Allan Guisihan, provincial police director of Negros Occidental, said the Police Regional Office 6 has taken over the investigations of the 18 incidents of alleged extra-judicial killings in Escalante since 2007.

Querol said the transfer of policemen is not a disciplinary action which requires due process, but a tactical move for the exigency of the service.

Querol did not attend the closed-door executive session scheduled Wednesday with members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Negros Occidental, who invited him to shed light on the suspension of the authority of Yap over the Escalante police by the National Police Commission.

Querol claimed that a complaint had already been filed against him before the Ombudsman, and he will answer the allegations against him in the proper forum.

Yap said he has not yet filed any case against Querol, as it is premature since the suspension order has not been implemented yet.*GPB

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