Tapaz PNP chief relieved
TAPAZ, Capiz -- This town's chief of police Sr. Insp. Diomedes Cuadra, Jr., was relieved from his post effective March 23, 2009. The relief of the police chief stemmed from the administrative charges filed with the National Police Commission by Ma. Aurora Palomar, a businesswoman from this town.
It could be recalled that the administrative charges were based on the incident that occurred in the municipal hall of Tapaz last month wherein Palomar and Cuadra had a heated confrontation. Then again, last March 14, there was another confrontation between Cuadra and Palomar’s nephew, Roberto, at the latter’s resort in Sitio Marugo here. T
he police chief accompanied the town’s mayor Rosemarie Gardose and some personnel of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources with the purpose to confiscate the alleged illegal bancas in the boat racing competition organized by the Palomars. However, they failed to stop the said competition due to lack of pertinent documents such as the court order.
The incident resulted to a “word war” through the media between Gardose and Palomar. The relief of the police chief, who is close to the mayor, is politically-motivated, some observers said. His relief may be instigated by the Palomars because Roberto will run for mayor in the next election against the incumbent mayor.
Sr. Supt. Josephus Angan, Capiz PNP provincial director, confirmed the relief of Cuadra. However, he didn’t give any reasons as to why Cuadra was relieved.
Cuadra is presently in a “floating” status at the Police Regional Office 6 headquarters in Iloilo City. Meanwhile, SPO1 Rufino Sarmiento was designated officer-in-charge of the Tapaz police station.