Ex-police generals lose in polls

MANILA, Philippines - A number of former police officials, including former national police chief Avelino Razon, failed to make the grade in last Monday’s elections.

Razon trailed in the mayoralty race in Manila, with former police official and incumbent Mayor Alfredo Lim proclaimed as winner by the Commission on Elections.

In Pangasinan, former police director Silverio Alarcio lost his bid as mayor of Laoac town, placing second to Antonio Abalos.

Former deputy director general Ismael Rafanan tried his luck to run for mayor of Villasis but also lost. Alarcio served as the PNP-Director for Operations while Rafanan served as PNP deputy chief for administration.

In Laguna, former police director Jaime Caringal, who served as chief of the Western Mindanao police region, placed third in the three-cornered fight for mayor of Cabuyao.

Former police intelligence director Roberto Delfin, who ran in the lone district of Antique, placed fourth in the May 10 elections.

Incumbent Sta. Barbara town Mayor Reynaldo Velasco in Pangasinan, also a former police general, is lagging behind Carlito Zaplan by about 500 votes. Zaplan reportedly got the support of a religious group that bolstered his candidacy.

Other former police generals, however, were more fortunate, among them former national police chief Hermogenes Ebdane Jr., poised to win the gubernatorial race in Zambales.

Ebdane has the distinction of being among the few former Cabinet members of President Arroyo to emerge as winner in the historic vote. Ebdane served as secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH).

Former police director Leopoldo Bataoil, who served as spokesman of the Philippine National Police (PNP), is also leading the race in the second congressional district of Pangasinan.

Retired police director Eliseo de la Paz, who figured in the controversy surrounding the undeclared euros during a trip to Moscow in 2008, is the first nominee of the party-list Anak.