Cuevas: Pull-out of all Estancia cops possible
If necessary, PNP Regional Director Chief Supt. Isagani Cuevas would not hesitate to recommend to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) the relief all personnel of Estancia Police Station.
Cuevas said yesterday that he already directed Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) director Senior Supt. Renato Gumban to conduct an investigation on who really are the persons roaming around acting as bodyguards to politicians at Estancia, Iloilo.
The investigation came in the heels of the reported near shootout between the bodyguards of incumbent Mayor Restituto Mosqueda and former mayor Rene Cordero. Both have filed their candidacy as Estancia mayoralty bets.
“Each of them alleged that the other party has private armed groups. That’s why I instructed Senior Supt. Gumban to do a study and make recommendations. Basi gusto niya bala islan ang tanan nga pulis dira so that they could implement properly the Comelec gun ban and laws and rules and regulations,” he said citing that something might be wrong in the implementation of laws because each of them have accusations.
“We could not say that our policemen are and should be perfect on that but if they are on the implementation of the law, the immediate commanding officer or the provincial director must immediately take action,” he pointed out.
It must be recalled that last Friday morning, a near shootout episode transpired in Estancia town between the security escorts of Mosqueda and Cordero while at a wake at Brgy. Bayuyan.
The incident stemmed when Mosqueda, a retired police general, confronted Cordero’s two bodyguards for wearing a fatigue uniform or battle dress attire.
For Cordero’s part, Mosqueda has no right to do that since his security details have proper authority from the Comelec.
But Mosqueda insisted that he has the right since he is the town mayor.
On the other hand, Estancia PNP chief Senior Insp. Dwight Fonte, Jr. said that he was not around when the incident happened.
“When I arrived, the two groups had a heated argument,” he said.
Prior to that, the Estancia police chief claimed that he was leading the conduct of checkpoint when he received a phone call from Mosqueda who asked about the legitimacy of the two police escorts of Cordero.
Instead of the usual general office attire (GOA) B, the two police escorts were donned camouflage green.
Meanwhile, Cuevas said that the prescribed uniform for PNP personnel is GOA A or GOA B (blue).
“There are times that camouflage is allowed if a policeman is a member of the Public Safety Management Unit,” he added.
In reference to the security details of Cordero, Cuevas opined that these personnel might not have been informed about the regulations but they could still be considered in proper uniform.
If there is a violation, he claimed that it is more on the administrative memorandum of the PNP and not on regulations sets by Comelec for security details to politicians.
