Codilla back as fire marshal

CEBU, Philippines - Effective today Supt. Esmael Codilla is back as fire marshal of the Cebu City Fire Department after he was replaced by Supt. Aderson Comar last Nov. 11.

Comar, in an interview with The FREEMAN, confirmed the reinstatement of Codilla, saying that the order came from Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo to have all reassignments of BFP officers nationwide after Aug. 17, 2010 revoked.

Comar said the order, dated February 1, 2011, specifically stated that the reassignment of officers and non-officers nationwide after the said date that were not confirmed by DILG be revoked.

Comar could not elaborate on the order but said it stemmed from a complaint from fire officials of the National Capital Region.

“Didto gyud na sa NCR nagsugod, ngadto ra na sa ilaha gi-apply, but karon entire country na. Naangin na bali ang Region 7. After Aug. 17 ang order, nya kay Nov. 11 man ta gi-appoint diri, so maapektohan gyud ko ani nga order,” he said.

He said there were no specific names written on the order as it was addressed to BFP officers nationwide.

As of today he will be on duty but in “floating status” at the Bureau of Fire Protection-7. He was national Chief for Special Operations before he replaced Codilla late last year.

Codilla, who was assigned as assistant regional director of BFP-7, served as Cebu City Fire Department fire marshal for eight years. Former mayor Tomas Osmeña appointed him in Dec. 2002.

It was Mayor Mike Rama who endorsed Comar after seeing him as qualified for the position.

Rama eyed the replacement of Codilla a day after he complained it took firefighters too long to stop a fire that left over 3,000 people homeless in Barangay T. Padilla last August. — (FREEMAN)