Abalos to Lina: Freeze relief order

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Benjamin Abalos ordered Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina yesterday to freeze his order relieving seven top police officials for their alleged failure to stop jueteng in their areas.

"There is no exemption yet so there should be no reassignments... The (police) generals stay," Abalos said, stressing that the election law prohibits the hiring, transfer or relief of government employees during an election period without the approval of the Comelec.

Since it is already the election period for the Sangguniang Kabataan and barangay elections which is to be held on July 15, Lina cannot relieve the police officials, he said.

Abalos earlier warned Lina that he could be charged with violating the election law if he persists in relieving the police officials.

Relieved on Wednesday were Metro Manila police chief Deputy Director General Edgar Aglipay, Central Visayas chief Director Avelino Razon, Central Luzon director Chief Superintendent Reynaldo Berroya, Southern Tagalog director Chief Superintendent Domingo Reyes, Western Police District director Chief Superintendent Nicolas Pasinos, Laguna director Senior Superintendent Leonilo de la Cruz and Cebu City director Senior Superintendent Jose Antonio Salvacion

Abalos said Lina could be administratively charged in addition to criminal raps for contempt and violations of the Omnibus Election Code.

He ordered Lina to submit pertinent documents to justify the revamp and substantiate his allegations that the police officials failed to curb illegal gambling within their jurisdiction.

In another development, Sen. Edgardo Angara said Malacañang should not take a lame, uncommitted stand on Lina’s effort to crack down on illegal gambling even as he called a "strong national stand" to support Lina’s crack down.

Angara said in a statement the "lame and uncommitted stand of Malacañang" on Lina’s drive is merely adding credence to reports that some powerful people close to the Palace are either protectors or operators of the country’s biggest jueteng syndicates.

"Are some people worried that Lina’s efforts may lead all the way to the top," Angara asked.

Angara said political, civic, religious and youth groups should be united behind Lina’s efforts and should urge Malacañang to take a strong stand and support Lina.

Malacañang’s failure to give all-out support is sending the wrong signals and may slow down the momentum of the drive against illegal gambling, the senator said.

He also lamented the efforts of some quarters to sabotage and derail Lina’s crackdown on illegal gambling.

Angara said there are apparently some quarters who want Lina to fail and their unwanted criticisms are meant to jeopardize the efforts of Lina to go after police officers involved in gambling, gambling lords and their political protectors.