Political turmoil in Tudela: Baquerfo files raps vs. 5 cops

CEBU – The political squabble in the town of Tudela in the island of Camotes is taking its toll on a lot of people including those in law enforcement.

This as five Tudela policemen have been ordered by the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to submit counter affidavits on the administrative and criminal complaints filed by Tudela mayor-elect Rogelio Baquerfo.

The five are among the 17 respondents of the first among the string of cases filed since July by Baquerfo since a court recount declared Mayor Demetrio Granada as the winner of last year’s elections.

Granada has already assumed his post as mayor.

SPO3 Edison Torres, SPO1 Rito Estremos, SPO4 Sulpicio Muntuerto; SPO3 Luifran Plaza and PO1 Flordeliz Contratista recently received their copies of the complaint with an order by the Ombudsman to submit their counter affidavits in ten days.

According to the complaint submitted by lawyer Nestor Archival, the said policemen along with eight department heads and the four education personnel, defied an order he issued on June 25, 2008 directing them to abide by his orders and memorandum and not that of Granada since his assumption was still premature.

“Despite the directive, there are persons/public officers who are defiant and disobedient, in fact, they even support Granada who has no authority to assume office and function as mayor,” Baquerfo said.

They remained defiant despite another order issued by the Department of Interior and Local Government calling on Granada to cease functioning as mayor.

With this, the respondents will be facing a criminal case for refusal to assist under Article 233 of the Revise Penal Code and insubordination by public officers.

Baquerfo in a talk with The FREEMAN yesterday said the inclusion of the five police personnel was not a hasty decision as it underwent several evaluations made by his so called “Council of Elders.”

He said there were instances that the said police personnel were unable to effectively perform their respective jobs more so when it comes to following rightful orders and maintaining their neutrality as law enforcers.

Baquerfo identified Torres and the rest to have less support and only gave a “cold treatment” in handling the case when there was an alleged attempt on his life last April.

The same police personnel also failed to remain neutral when Granada attempted to take his seat in May and failed to stop him when he successfully took over in June.

PO1 Contratista on the other hand allegedly made an “unclear” investigation on a rape case involving a municipal councilor earlier this year.

“This is after thorough evaluation and to give them an avenue to air their side and I do hope that I am wrong, pulis man sad ko sauna, I cannot rely on them,” Baquerfo said.

He said he had not talked with Cebu Provincial Police Director P/SSupt. Carmelo Valmoria on the cases he filed against the five Tudela cops although he claimed to have maintained an open communication with him.

Tudela Police Chief P/Insp. Ramon Villar said he was surprised upon learning the cases faced by his men yesterday.

Villar said they never take and follow orders from Granada despite several requests made by the latter.

“Pamolitika lang jud na og wala namolitika ang akong mga tawo, in fact, his requests were turned down since we do not recognize him,” Villar said.

Granada recently asked the police to secure area for a planned caravan but which he out rightly denied.

As to the allegations of “cold treatment” and unclear investigation, Villar said he was not yet the Chief of Police at that time.

He said the police are placed in a difficult situation but since they are under DILG, they bowed to its authority and whoever is recognized by the said agency.

Villar said he also do not make any decision without consulting Valmoria.

Valmoria reiterated in earlier interviews that the police will not meddle with the political war in Tudela but only to maintain peace and order.

He said he did not want to dwell into the legality of the dispute between Granada and Baquerfo because the issue was already taken cared of by the DILG.

Valmoria maintained he only wants to ensure that peace and order would prevail in Tudela while they wait for the action that the DILG would take.

Baquerfo was declared winner during the 2007 elections while Granada was declared winner in the court-initiated recount by a margin of 13 votes.

Granada took over as mayor early June when Baquerfo was in mainland Cebu to attend to some business.

Baquerfo started filing cases against the councilors for issuing a resolution recognizing Granada as well as the department heads and other officers for continuing to go against his administration.

Police last month arrested one of the suspects for throwing a World War II type grenade at the police station in July, who also implicated a former councilor-turned-Granada’s aide as one of the culprits. — /NLQ (THE FREEMAN)