Talisay VM still seeks police chief's ouster

There is no stopping Talisay City Vice Mayor Aberdovey Belleza in his effort to have acting city police chief Audie Villacin replaced.

This even after Cebu Provincial Police Office director Vicente Loot decided that Villacin should remain in his post following the "satisfactory ratings" given by Mayor Socrates Fernandez.

Belleza said he respected Fernandez's decision, but admitted that his present rift with Villacin made his job as chairman of the City Council committee on peace and order and public safety more difficult.

"Police chiefs will come and go. It is the city that'll be sacrificed if he continues to be so," Belleza said of Villacin who, according to him, does not coordinate with his committee.

Belleza said that if he did not send Villacin a memorandum threatening to forfeit the police chief's allowance from the city, Villacin would not have provided the Vice Mayor's Office with a copy of the daily police report.

The vice mayor explained that it is important for him to know the operation of the city police since it is he who represents them in the council.

Belleza also said that he is waiting for Villacin to file a complaint over his privilege speech before the council last month lambasting the police chief for being unable to solve the crimes in the city and for reportedly involving in several anomalies.

"Pakihaa siya kay kulban nako siya'g kon," Belleza said, adding that he has enough proof to pin Villacin down.

Belleza, however, clarified that he has "nothing personal against Villacin," saying that it was just the performance of the police chief that he is not satisfied with. - Liv G. Campo