Appointment of Bontoc police chief opposed

BEHIND THE SCENES
Alfred P. Dizon

(We give way to a letter of a certain Pablo Santos to the chief of the Philippine National Police and Secretaries of the departments of Justice and Interior and Local government. Those alluded to may email their comments to northphiltimes@yahoo.com for publication in this space. We edited out the more serious allegations against PSI Pablo Ondalos as contained in the letter but will print it if the complaint is filed before the proper forum.)

I would like to bring to your attention the illegitimate assignment of a certain PSI Pablo Ondalos as chief of police of the Bontoc, Mountain Province police force.

According to insiders, Bontoc Mayor Pascual Sacgaca endorsed Ondalos to Mt. Province provincial police director Fortunato Albas to replace PCI Marcial Faed which Albas approved.

Faed was assigned as full-fledged chief of police for 10 months only. Why was he changed? He was discharging his work well. It was during his time and PCI Lizardo, former Bontoc police chief, that millions worth of illegal drugs were confiscated. Some petty criminals were also caught.

Some top rank police officers revealed that a police with the rank of police major must be the chief of police of a capital town. Not below this rank.

In 2007, Undalos was relieved as Bontoc police chief because of rampant crimes that were unsolved. Among these were forcible entry of business establishments fronting the police station, public market and along the national highway at Poblacion.

We have a law and procedure to follow which I think Sacgaca, Albas and the deputy provincial director for administration are not yet aware of. If a position is vacant or supposed to be vacant, applicants are required to submit their application letters including their credentials to the Selection Board.

The Board evaluates the documents of applicants and endorses the applicants who passed the initial selection to the National Police Commission after which the Napolcom endorses those qualified (at least five) to the Local Government Unit for its final selection.

The case of Undalos is absurd. Sacgaca alleged that there was only one applicant to position of Police Chief of Bontoc. But in the first place there was no vacancy and Faed did not vacate his post or overstayed in his post to have a mandatory re-assignment or relieved.

Ignorance is no excuse so the people concerned with this illegal act must have to be relieved or dismissed from their posts due to gross negligence or incompetence, grave abuse of authority and criminal charges that maligned Faed and his family. Relieving Faed without just cause is a slap to Faed, his career and his family.

To those concerned in the relief of Faed, before making a decision especially if you are ignorant or do not know the interpretation of the law or procedure, please be humble enough and seek the assistance of the Fiscal’s Office of the government and judges of the regional and municipal trial courts. Thank you for your favorable action on this matter.