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A
new City PNP chief has assumed at the Tagbilaran City Police
Station (TCPS) following orders from the Commission on Elections
(Comelec) Manila even as City Mayor Dan Lim continue to oppose
the appointment and has ordered yesterday the pull-out of
city government-owned police vehicles and motorcycles.
P/Supt.
Abner Catalla reported to the city police station yesterday
morning after receiving a memorandum from Comelec Commissioner
Resureccion Borra and regional director Rene Buac, dated March
29 and 30, respectively approving his transfer as temporary
City PNP chief.
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Mayor
Lim has been opposing Catalla's assignment as he had
suspicions it is being used by his political enemies,
whom he says have access to the police hierarchy in
Camp Crame, to manipulate the coming May elections.
"Some
quarters see the hand of Cong. Edgar Chatto and former
mayor Joe Torralba" in the appointment of Catalla.
as City PNP chief.
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Yesterday,
the mayor gave orders to hold all budgetary allocations and
subsidies to the City PNP and withdraw some 20 motorcycle
units and 2 police cars, including office equipment that are
assigned at the police office.
The
mayor also threatened to recall all city paid casuals employees
assigned at the city police station.
The
mayor told the Chronicle he will not tolerate such maneuver
after he was not duly consulted by Bohol PNP Director SSupt.
Edgardo Ingking who made the appointment of Catalla.
Lim
said he had been a victim of massive cheating during the past
elections indicating that control over the city police is
very crucial in holding a clean, credible and honest polls.
In
a letter to Ingking yesterday, Lim reiterated his position
rejecting the designation of Catalla.
"My
initial refusal was based on my questions on the capacity
of Supt. Catalla to the TCPS. Subsequent events have validated
my refusal in the sense that there is more than meets the
eye," the mayor said.
It
may be recalled that after Lim refused Ingking's appointment
of Catalla last week, the PNP provincial director submitted
a list of two other probable candidates to assume as city
police chief, from which the mayor could choose.
However,
the mayor questioned the manner by which Commissioner Borra
and the regional Comelec director have accepted the appointment
of Catalla, even before he could decide who to choose from
among the recommendees.
"As
it turned out, you had already worked out for [the designation
of Catalla] even before I could make an official reply,"
Lim stated in his letter to Ingking.
According
to Lim, Ingking had already sought Comelec approval of Catalla's
appointment, which "shows not only utter disrespect"
to the mayor "but also betrays [the] intention to work
out Catalla's designation at all cost."
The
mayor said the transfer of Catalla violates "pertinent
laws particularly those that install safeguards against attempts
to influence the elections."
An
effort to contact Ingking and Catalla presstime yesterday
proved futile.
According
to the mayor, the haste in designating Catalla is also questionable
and could only
lead to suspicions that has something to do with the coming
elections since C/Insp. Jacinto Cesar, TCPS officer-in-charge,
is currently on leave for a mandatory police course in Cebu
City and is supposed to reassume his post on April 23.
The
mayor reminded Ingking that during the latter's tenure as
city police chief, an ambush took place right in the heart
of the city which nearly took the life of Gov. Erico Aumentado.
Mayor
Lim is already seeking for a reconsideration from Comelec
Manila regarding the designation of Catalla.
CATALLA'S
COURTESY CALL
The
newly appointed City PNP chief made a courtesy call at the
office of the mayor last Monday.
However,
during his talk with the city chief executive, Catalla was
informed that his designation is rejected.
Lim
cited the authority of the local chief authority defined under
RA 8851, which provides, among others, that the authority
to choose the chief of police will be made by the local chief
executive from a list of five eligibles recommended by the
provincial PNP director.
Lim
also told Catalla that the latter's appointment violates Comelec
Resolution 7770 which states that the appointment of new employees
during the 45-day period before the regular elections shall
only be made with prior authority from the Comelec.
However,
the commission's approval may only be granted if the position
would not influence the holding of the elections.
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