Mayor denies withdrawing support for police over assignment row
Credit to Author: ROY NARRA| Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2019 05:41:27 +0000
MARIKINA Mayor Marcelino Teodoro denied allegations that he withdrew support for his local police after he was not informed that there was a new chief.
“I, as city mayor, have not withheld support from the PNP (Philippine National Police) Marikina, and shall continue to be its primary advocate as peace and order remains a priority of my administration,” he said in a text message sent to reporters.
Police Col. Redrico Maranan, the city’s chief of police, previously told reports that Teodo dropped the gas allowance for patrol cars and the tickets used by his officers for violators.
Teodoro said the gasoline allowance was not removed but that he just wanted to ensure proper sharing of operating expenses.
“When I instructed Col. Maranan to ensure that operating expenses be equally shared by the PNP and the city, including gasoline expense, it is a matter of judicious spending in order that activities and programs relating to law enforcement in the city will be met with efficiency,” he said.
“It should be reminded that we, the city, have given more to the PNP Marikina in terms of logistics, and have even made plans for [a] PNP building. So to say that we have withdrawn support is far fetched,” Teodoro added.
He slammed the PNP for being “unprofessional” when he was not informed that Maranan would replace Police Colonel Roger Quesada as the city’s chief of police.
He said that under the provision of Republic Act 7160 and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Act, “as amended that expressly states that the city mayor has operational supervision and control of PNP units within his jurisdiction.”
“I was not informed of the appointment of an OIC, and it speaks of the unprofessionalism of the PNP more than anything…It is a matter of courtesy and respect and observance of the law that I should at least be notified.”
PNP Chief General Oscar Albayalde previously insisted that there were no laws requiring them to give notice to mayors about the replacement of police officials.
The PNP, however, has to give mayors five police officers from whom they can choose their chief of police.
In the case of Maranan, he was put there temporarily as Quesada would be promoted, Albayalde said.
“What is written in the law is they have the right to choose from among the recommended that we will give them. I hope they don’t abuse this power,” he said.
Albayalde called the mayor, who is seeking another term as Marikina City mayor, “childish” for allegedly removing his support to the local police.
He instructed Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, Metro Manila regional director, to prepare a report about the situation and send it to the DILG.
It was Eleazar who identified Teodoro.
In a text message, Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said the matter would be investigated.
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