“No politics in police chief’s death” – mayor

CEBU, Philippines - The mayor of Alcoy town cried foul over allegations that politics was behind the killing of their police chief.

This after reports that nobody filed charges against Ciriaco delos Santos after he killed Inspector Crisanto Abella allegedly due to fear as he was a cousin of Mayor Nicomedes delos Santos.

“It is not true that there is politics behind his slay,” the mayor said in an interview with The FREEMAN.

Nicomedes also denied supporting Ciriaco who gunned down Abella during a boxing event in Barangay Pob-lacion last Sunday night.

Abella’s stint as police chief in Alcoy ended August 5, but Nicomedes sent a copy of a resolution asking for Abella’s retention as they were about to celebrate the town’s annual fiesta celebration yesterday.

The mayor even described Abella as a good policeman with no derogatory records while still in the service.The only negative thing he noticed about Abella was his being a drunkard, he said.

“Personally sa akong pag-ila niya, dili siya abusado, di pud mangwarta, but kung muinom man gani mahubog gyud. It is an open secret and it is not good for a public servant to be seen in public nga maghubog-hubog,” said Nicomedes.

Based also on a resolution from the Sangguniang Bayan, the police chief has rendered substantial accomplishments and established a highly efficient performance in his duties and responsibilities.

Abella was also capable in managing the town’s peace and order situation, he added.

“Maayo siya ug PR and respectful but stressed na kuno siya, but I don’t know what kind of stress he was referring to,” Nicomedes further said.

Abella succumbed to gunshot wounds in the body.

He was conducting police visibility with his personnel when he was shot by Ciriaco.

Ciriaco was arrested in a hot pursuit operation and was confiscated with two handguns including Abella’s service firearm, a 9mm pistol with bullets.

Charges for murder and illegal possession of firearm have been filed against the suspect before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office last week. (FREEMAN)