Baquerfo wants new cops for Tudela police station

CEBU, Philippines - One of the things that Mayor Rogelio Baquerfo wants as he assumes as mayor of Tudela is to change the town’s police officers, saying their exposure to the politics in the town might affect the delivery of services.

“Dili sad sa ingon pagsaway pero ang police operation mausab jud. Dili sad ingon nga naay hugaw pero naa ju’y naapektuhan sa politika,” Baquerfo said.

Baquerfo will assume as mayor of Tudela after the Commission on Elections denied the Petition for Certiorari and issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order filed by his political rival Demetrio Granada.

Baquerfo said majority of the members of the town council is against him but should they oppose projects that would benefit the people, he reportedly would not hesitate to file charges against them.

“Mo-charge jud ko og case kung sige lang sila ug babag-babag labi na kaayuhan sa mga tao. Naa na sa Revise Penal Code,” he said.

Baquerfo announced earlier that about 80 job order personnel hired during Granada’s stint as mayor cannot get their salary for seven months reportedly for lack of funds.

Baquerfo also paid a visit to Provincial Police Director Jesus Gaquing as the new mayor of Tudela and also to seek police support. He said the town remains peaceful but it is better not to let his guard down.

Gaquing, for his part, said the police will continue to observe the situation in Tudela and will retain the police force detailed there until sufficient peace would allow them to be pulled out.

“So far, ipabilin lang na sila didto. Tan-awon lang ang situation, tan-awn lang sad ni ug mahatag ba ang hangyo ni Mayor Baquerfo nga ilisan ang mga police didto. Pero ako lang paabuton ang iyang appropriate request,” Gaquing said.

The Comelec earlier directed the immediate implementation of the Writ of Execution ordering Granada to vacate the mayor’s office in favor of Baquerfo.

Betty Pizaña, director and clerk of the commission, signed the Writ of Execution that ordered Granada to “cause the smooth turn-over of office” to Baquerfo.

The Comelec likewise ordered the election officer of Tudela and the Department of Interior and Local Government to submit a report of action within five days from the receipt of the order.

The Comelec en banc upheld an earlier decision of the first division supporting the legality of Baquerfo’s hanging on to his position despite the Regional Trial Court declaring Granada as the real victor of the May 2007 polls.

The Comelec denied Granada’s motion for reconsideration to have the September 4, 2008 resolution of the Comelec first division reversed.

In the four-page resolution signed by chairman Jose Melo and commissioners Rene Sarmiento, Nicodemo Ferrer, Leonardo Leonida, Lucenito Tagle, Armando Velasco and Elias Yusoph, the Comelec en banc agreed that the lower court’s decision should not be implemented pending appeal because Granada’s margin over Baquerfo during the recount is “not a safe lead.”

Granada won in the election protest against Baquerfo by a slim margin of 13 votes.

RTC Branch 25 judge Edito Enemecio in Danao City ruled on November 12, 2007 that Granada was the real victor in the May 2007 mayoralty race in Tudela and allowed him to assume the position pending appeal. – Christopher Gabriel C. Bonjoc/JMO (THE FREEMAN)