Officer behind Capitol siege is new IPPO head
Mongcal
He is against the appointment of Senior Supt. Melvin Mongcal as the new director of the Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO) but Governor Niel Tupas Sr. respects the decision of the Philippine National Police (PNP) hierarchy and the Commission on Elections (Comelec)
Tupas earlier expressed his strong opposition to Mongcal's appointment as acting IPPO provincial director. Mongcal was the ground commander of police commandos who assaulted the Capitol last January 17.
"He is not welcome," Tupas said yesterday of Sr. Supt. Mongcal, who assumed his post Monday as acting provincial director of Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO). Hours after making the declaration, Mongcal paid Tupas a courtesy call at the latter's office.
Tupas said that Mongcal was head of the Regional Mobile Group, which attempted to bodily remove the governor last January 17 following the dismissal order by Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez. Following the assault on the Capitol, Tupas filed criminal and administrative charges against several regional police officials, one of whom is Mongcal, with the Ombudsman for the Military
The governor admitted that he is 'quite uncomfortable' with Mongcal as the provincial director.
"The situation is indeed very awkward. But we will have a critical collaboration because he is already there, his appointment was approved by the Comelec (Commission on Elections), although we have already registered our opposition with the proper forum," Tupas said, adding that he has nothing personal with Mongcal.
Mongcal replaces Sr. Supt. Joel Napoleon Coronel who was transferred to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in National Capital Region.
The governor stressed that they will pursue the case against those behind the police operation on the Capitol.
At the same time, the governor questioned Mongcal's designation as acting police chief for the province.
He said that the Philippine National Police would normally make him choose among three nominees on who will be the provincial director. With Mongcal however, Tupas said that he was not made to choose who will replace Coronel.
Despite the tension between him and his provincial director, Tupas assured that the province's peace and order situation will not be adversely affected.