Comar admits "floating" status following his relief as fire marshal

CEBU, Philippines - After two weeks since his relief, former Cebu City Fire Marshal Aderson Comar yesterday lamented that his transfer to the National Capital Region placed him more on floating status rather than a promotion.

Comar was reassigned as the assistant regional director for operations of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in the NCR.

“Promotion sa position, og ato binisay-on, labaw pa sa floating,” said Comar during the weekly Tapok Tapok sa Sugbo Media forum at the NS Hotel.

Comar explained that it is so impractical to serve in a place that he is not familiar with. “Mobalik ta sa (I will be back to) square one ani,” he said.

Comar hit BFP 7 director Maria Luisa Hadjula who recommended for his relief after accusing him of committing irregularities. Comar however set aside politics in his transfer.

According to him, the incident is just between him and Hadjula.

“Dili ni promotion ang ako pag-assign sa NCR, para mawala lang sa iya ang tunok sa iya administrasyon (my assignment to NCR is not a promotion, this is just a way to get rid of me)” Comar said.

Comar added that he preferred to be back as provincial fire marshal of Cebu, the position he previously held for three years.

Last August 14, Comar was replaced by Chief Insp. William Tacaldo Jr., who was Dumaguete City fire marshal for five years.

Days before the death of Secretary Jesse Robredo, the Department of Interior and Local Government approved the reshuffling of 13 national officers and 32 BFP 7 officials assigned in urban areas.

The relief of Comar was based on a resolution passed in March by the BFP 7 which was approved by the BFP central office.

Comar assumed as fire marshal of Cebu City in November 2010.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, who personally chose Comar, already has expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the new city fire chief citing the lousy response during the recent fire along M. Velez St.

Rama has been very vocal against the relief of Comar saying that the fire officer was doing well in the city.

Rama already asked the Department of Budget and Management Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad to help him get Comar back. (FREEMAN)