Bulacan cop chief protests relief

By George Trillo

CAMP GENERAL ALEJO SANTOS, Bulacan -- Provincial police director Senior Supt. Allen B. Bantolo protested his relief after he was replaced by his classmate last week in what he attributed work “unseen hands.”

In a simple turnover ceremony here June 7, Bantolo was replaced by his former PMA 1983 classmate Senior Supt. Diosdado Ramos.

Senior Supt. Bautista, Region 3 deputy director for operation, read the general orders for the relief of Bantolo and appoinment of Ramos as new provincial director.

Bantolo, outgoing provincial director, in his message, thanked all the people who supported him, particularly the police regional director, provincial governor, and the mayors of different municipalities.

"On hindsight, just allow me to give a parting shot to a dangerous precedent that I want to be addressed at its infancy because if this is not given serious thoughts and consideration, this might become the rust that would derail the transformation program being pursued by PNP chief Director-General Jesus Verzosa," Bantolo said.

He said "it is not only alarming and dangerous but it also threatens the very fiber of the morale of officers, specially those who consider their calling as sacred their responsibility to God and our family."

"Had I been relieved for cause attributable to my lapses and shortcomings, there’s no problem. But if unseen hands, specially religious organizations that violate the constitutional mandate of the separation of the Church and State, then it is very, very dangerous," Bantolo said.

"My only sin is that I do not boot-lick power brokers, but I simply stick to the chain of command," he said.