City Mayor Dan Lim in a clear move of by-passing the PNP provincial command, has asked its regional headquarters based in Cebu City to appoint the next chief of the city police.

The post will be vacant starting tomorrow due to the retirement of Chief Inspector Jesus Acullador, acting city PNP chief.

The city mayor picked Chief Insp. Jacinto A. Cesar, citing his credentials as the only graduate of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), from among five names recommended to the post. He is presently the chief of the intelligence and investigation section of the PNP provincial command based at Camp Dagohoy.

The request reached the regional PNP command amid brewing conflict between the city mayor and PNP Prov'l Director Arturo Evangelista.

In fact, in his letter, the mayor told PNP Regional Director Eduardo Gador that he is willing to be investigated on allegations spread by top PNP officials in the province. He alleged that "despite being officers, Supt. Evangelista and Supt. Ernesto Agas have not been gentlemen enough to come out into the open regarding serious allegations they have leveled against me behind my back."

In his weekly "Mayor's Report" over dyRD yesterday, Mayor Lim said he was accused of protecting the illegal numbers game "swertres" and illegal drugs.

In seeking an investigation on the serious accusation against him, the mayor, likewise told Director Gador that they (Evangelista and Agas) too should "similarly be man enough to be subjected to the same investigation process."

"Those who make accusations should come to court with clean hands. By clean, it should be consistent," the mayor continued

EVANGELISTA'S DENIAL

PNP Prov'l director Evangelista strongly denied having issued such accusations against Mayor Lim.

During a phone interview with the Chronicle last night, Evangelista was surprised to be accused of having peddled serious allegations against the city mayor.

"Saan ba galing yung information nya?" the PNP official queried.

Agas, for his part, could not be reached for comments.

Agas was the city police chief who vacated his post as he "will pursue further military schooling. However, until now, Col. Agas is still at Camp Dagohoy acting as one of the trusted officers of the provincial PNP director.

CEZAR VOWS TO FOLLOW ORDERS

Chief Insp. Cezar, during an interview with the Chronicle last night said as a "good soldier, I will follow whatever assignment is given to me."

The 42-year-old officer who belongs to PMA Class '86 has been holding the post as intelligence and investigation officer of Camp Dagohoy since 1992. However, in his term, he likewise served as company commander of the local PNP command and was assigned as PNP chief of Carmen town as well.

Lim said that Cezar is a victim of alleged discrimination against officers who are not in good graces of power brokers.

"True or not, the prevailing perception is that the graduates of the Philippine National Police Academy dictates the appointments of police officers in Bohol," the mayor claimed.

Cezar who is native of Calvario, Loay was one of the five names endorsed as choices for city police chief. The four others were P/Supt. Clarito Baja, Dimiao PNP chief; P/Insp. Jeffrey Caballes, supply officer; P/Insp. Lorenzo Batuan, Inabanga PNP chief and P/Insp. Uldarico Palgan, PCR officer.