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Col.
Inking seeks ouster of "swertres" cop
By: KIT BAGAIPO
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Bohol
police provincial director SSupt. Edgardo Ingking is
seeking for the relief of former Ubay police chief Supt.
Eduardo Saavedra for allegedly receiving protection
money from swertres operators and financiers.
Ingking
has a pending administrative complaint at the National
Police Commission (Napolcom) against Saavedra for grave
misconduct.
The complaint, filed last January 15 is separate from
another administrative case filed by the provincial
police director against Saavedra in November last year.
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The
previous case stemmed from a series of pilferage and the eventual
loss of 11 heavy equipment stationed in barangays Bulilis
and Himbabauran, Ubay town, worth about P20-million.
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The
pilferage was done purportedly with the knowledge of
Saavedra who was then Ubay chief of police.
In
his new complaint, Ingking said that while Saavedra
was still the chief of police in Ubay, from May 2005
until October 2007, abused his position and recklessly
disregarded his oath "for monetary gains."
According
to the provincial police chief, Saavedra "maliciously,
unlawfully and feloniously received protection money"
from illegal swertres coordinators and operators operating
in Ubay.
The
illegal numbers game is prohibited under RA 9287.
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Ingking
cited in the complaint that Saavedra refused to enforce the
law in exchange for "weekly protection money received
from illegal gamblers.
Swertres
operations allegedly worsened in Ubay despite Ingking's declaration
of an all out war against all forms of illegal gambling.
Named
as complainant's witnesses against Saavedra are SPO2 Fernando
Vergara, PO1 Joshua Limaco, Daniel Boyles and Wilfredo Avenido.
According
to Ingking, "the act done by respondent (Saavedra) tremendously
tainted the image of the PNP."
The
provincial police chief asked for the immediate transfer of
Saavedra from his "floating" assignment at the Bohol
Police Provincial Office to the Holding Center of the Police
Regional Office in Cebu City.
"If
he is allowed to continue serving with the Bohol Police Provincial
Office [it] would only cause further damage rather than remedy,"
Ingking said, "Considering his rank and status in the
organization, there is an eminent danger that he will intimidate
civilian and lowly police witnesses who might be discouraged
to testify against him."
A
reassignment to the Cebu City PNP Holding Center would also
be advantageous on the part of Saavedra, according to Ingking,
as hearings of his administrative case would be done in Cebu
City.
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