Mandaluyong looking for anti-drug police chief

Mandaluyong City Mayor Benjamin "Benhur" Abalos Jr. said yesterday he wants his new police chief to be a staunch anti-drug crusader.

Abalos is currently scouting for a replacement to incumbent local police chief Senior Superintendent Sukarno Ikbala, who had been personally hand-picked by Philippine National Police chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. to head the 100-man contingent bound for a peacekeeping mission in Iraq.

Ikbala is set to leave for Iraq in May.

When asked whom he had endorsed as his replacement, Ikbala said he named an outstanding police officer, but refused to reveal his name.

Abalos said he will allow Ikbala to remain at his post until his departure for Iraq. Ikbala’s replacement, Abalos said, must be at the forefront in cleansing the city of illegal drugs, which he blamed for the vicious murder of a seven-year-old girl in Barangay Hulo last month.

"I want my new police chief to fight illegal drugs ‘till the end," Abalos said as he vowed to make his city drug-free and "investor-friendly."

The mayor is giving his full support to Ikbala’s effort to rid the city of illegal drugs. Just recently, Abalos shelled out P100,000 for the anti-illegal drug drive which resulted in the arrest of 36 drug pushers and users, including Josefina Tutaan, tagged as the "queen of pushers" in Barangay Mauway.

Last year, Tutaan caused the dismissal of four policemen, including the local drug enforcement unit (DEU) chief, after she filed counter-charges over her arrest. The four cops were later reinstated and the DEU chief promoted to the next rank.

"She claimed to have judicial clout, but this time, she will rot in jail," Abalos to said.

The mayor said he expects Metro police chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco to submit to him a list of five candidates for police chief a week before Ikbala’s departure.

"I do understand that Gen. Velasco will endorse five men available and I will select the outstanding and brightest among them," he said.