MORE NEWS, ABRA

Abra execs pledge support for Cordillera PNP chief against groups, detractors
By Dexter A. See

BANGUED, Abra – Provincial and municipal officials of this conflict-rocked province pledged support for a holistic approach to attain peace following a move by some groups to ruin the image of the province in the national scene.

Negative reports about the allegedly unsolved violent cases in the different parts of the province, particularly in the remote town of Tineg, surfaced after Tineg Mayor Edwin Crisologo sought the ouster of Chief Supt. Eugene G. Martin, director of the Police Regional Office in the Cordillera, and Senior Supt. Alexander Pumecha, Abra police director, for their reported failure to stop the spate of killings in the province.

However, Abra Rep. Cecilia Luna disagreed with the contention of Martin and Pumecha’s detractors, saying the two police officers were responsible for the restoration of peace in Abra and were able to inculcate among the people the importance of upholding the law and the formation of proper values.

She said the two police officers’ "unmatched abilities and resolute commitment as agents of much-awaited reforms in the province" cannot be disputed. Despite intense political pressure and resistance by warring forces, Martin and Pumecha persisted in pursuing peace efforts especially in far-flung communities.

Meanwhile, Abra Gov. Eustaquio Bersamin cited records showing a significant decline in the crime rate in the province and the entire region.

He said this is an indication of the sincerity and commitment of the police in maintaining peace and order in the region, especially in this conflict-rocked province which was plagued by violence in the past several decades. He said the police’s expertise in confronting insurgency, armed conflicts, and intense political rivalry in the province has withstood the test of time the past years.

Bersamin said local officials cannot put the safety and freedom of the people at risk by allowing malicious intentions to destroy the record of the good police officers who have the will and ability to help the people of Abra in realizing their dream of a peaceful, progressive province.

In separate manifestoes, 26 of the 27 mayors in the province said that despite the politically motivated turmoil and difficulties confronting the region, they have always kept their trust and confidence in the leadership of the Cordillera police because they have shown a strong determination to push reforms and make the region a peaceful place.

Non-government organizations and professional groups as well as tribal councils likewise vowed support for the police’s effort at the attainment of lasting peace in the province.


Folks press suspension of absentee Abra mayor
By Dexter A. See

TINEG, Abra – Concerned residents of this remote town formally filed an administrative case against mayor Crisologo for his failure to actually and actively perform his supposed duties and responsibilities after winning the May 14, 2007 local elections.

In an administrative complaint for dereliction of duty and absenteeism, grave misconduct and abandonment filed before the Abra provincial board, residents claimed the mayor never appeared in their town after being proclaimed as the winner in the tightly and hotly-contested mayoralty race and allegedly refused to pay municipal employees.

At the same time, Abra Gov. Eustquio Bersamin, in a separate communication, requested Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno to conduct an investigation on Crisologo over the alleged misuse of the town’s huge Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).

Tineg remains to be the poorest town in this conflict-stricken province even if it has a nearly P5 million monthly IRA.

The complaint disclosed municipal employees have not been paid their salaries and wages the past several months because the mayor cannot be reportedly located to sign appropriate documents for the release of the funds for such purpose.

The filed complaint is expected to result in the escalation of violence in the town due to perceived retaliatory acts by some sympathizers of Crisologo.

However, police authorities said the situation in Tineg is under control despite prevailing conflicts because they have added up to the existing police force to attend to the peace and order needs of the people who are being affected by the political bickering in the town.

Ironically, Tineg has the highest number of murder cases in the province with eight persons having been killed, thus, the complainants sought the conduct of an in-depth and independent investigation to ascertain who is supposed to be liable and impose the corresponding penalty against erring officials.
Earlier, the provincial peace and order council called on concerned government agencies to conduct an investigation on absentee mayors, especially Crisologo, so that they will be forced to go back to their respective territories and serve their constituents.

The conflict between Crisologo and law enforcement officials as well as irate residents stemmed after the former sought the ouster of ranking police officials for their alleged failure to stop the spate of killings in the province over the past several years.

But almost all sectors in the province rallied behind the police officials since they were able to show their ability to restore peace in the province. They also denounced Crisologo’s act for alleged misuse of IRA funds.