Mayor wants Santos relieved JVR loses cool on police chief

CEBU, Philippines -  The city police chief's unfulfilled promise to arrest at least three suspected individuals into illegal drug activities did not sit well with Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes that he threatened to relieve Supt. Resty Santos.

"I am not happy with his performance," De los Reyes said, adding that the police chief promised that he will be conducting operations following the raid by the National Bureau of Investigation who just nabbed a big-time pusher in Barangay Tabunok last week.

The NBI officials alleged that when they made their operation in Talisay City, they tried to coordinate with the local police but they could not get their subject person.

Subsequently, the NBI conducted their operation without coordination with the local police, leading to the apprehension of suspected drug pusher in the city.

In an interview with the reporters, De los Reyes said that he called up Santos regarding the issue and indeed the latter promised to arrest three individuals to prove that he had nothing to do with protecting illegal drugs.

"Maayo lang na mo-istorya pero wa man diay nahimo," the mayor said.

De los Reyes is now making his list of  police officials to manage the peace and order of the city. He will be submitting the names to the Cebu Provincial Police Office and to Police Regional Office.

He added that his patience could no longer deal with the sloppy police performance and that it's the high time to replace Santos.

De los Reyes said that he had since received many reports regarding the issue of illegal drugs, as well as the illegal gambling, in the city and he tried to delegate these to Santos, but still there have been no improvement, he said.

"The problems have become even worse," said De los Reyes.

Separately, Santos said can't do anything with mayor's plan to relieve him. He said he is willing to accept the decision.

"It is part of our job to be assigned or to be re-assigned to another place," said Santos.

For deputy provincial director for administration Supt. Renato Malazarte, however, Santos is performing well and it's up to the provincial director if  he will be relieved.

Malazarte said Santos performed well during his stint as the chief of Talisay City Police and in his previous assignments.

He added that his previous accomplishments were the bases why he was assigned in Talisay, the biggest police station under Cebu Provincial Police Office's jurisdiction.

Malazarte also pointed out that if ever Santos will be relieved, CPPO will submit five names to their regional headquarters for the selection process.

Once selected, the list will be forwarded to the city mayor for him to choose who will sit as the next chief of  police.

Malazarte said that for the time being, Santos remains in his office as the city's chief of  police.

In an earlier interview Santos told reporters that he had delivered his promise of arresting three drug personalities weekly without fail.

Although he's a bit upset, nevertheless he thanked the city mayor for choosing him as the current chief.

He added that leaving Talisay would not be a problem for him because he has done many accomplishments, especially in the prevention of illegal drugs activities and solution to robbery and theft cases. — with Bryner L. Diaz of BANAT News (FREEMAN)