Loot: Digal is Garcia's "puppet"

CEBU, Philippines - Daanbantayan Mayor Maria Luisa Loot has described Cebu Provincial Police Director Erson Digal as a “puppet” that shames the Philippine National Police organization for allowing himself to be used by a politician.

Loot said Digal should be loyal to the PNP and not with Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, whom she accused of being behind the relief of the six policemen from her town.

“Dili pwede nga unsay isugo sa politiko iyang sundon, law-ay sa PNP iyang gibuhat,” Loot told The FREEMAN.

Digal ordered the relief of six policemen from Daanbantayan and reassigned them to Medellin and San Remigio. Loot questioned the relief saying it was politically motivated.

She said Garcia was behind the relief because the six policemen were identified with her. Loot said it was unfair for Daanbantayan because while six of her policemen were relieved, Garcia maintains several bodyguards.

In fact, there were allegedly 43 policemen assigned at the Capitol including those who are assigned as driver and bodyguards of Paolo Garcia, son of the governor.

 “Angayan na kuhaan sa capitol kay nanobra ra hasta driver police unya iyang anak way official function. Dili unta siya (Digal) magbinogo,” Loot said.

Digal denied politics was involved in the relief of the six policemen from Daanbantayan. He said he was just following orders from Camp Crame and the National Police Commission.

 “Wa man koy problema kung mokiha man gani siya ako nang atubangon. I do my job,” Digal said, reacting to Loot’s threat to charge him before the Office of the Ombudsman Visayas.

Digal said he was directed by the personnel division and approved by Police Regional Office 7 Director Ager Ontog to transfer the police officers to other stations that lack personnel because of the minimum requirement that no station should have less than 21 personnel.

“Before I issued the order I consulted with the regional director,” he said.

Loot vowed to go after Digal even if he is no longer assigned in Cebu. (THE FREEMAN)