Abat’s son-in-law cries foul over Lacson’s transfer order

A ranking police official, who was sacked on suspicion of instigating armed conflict among the ranks of the Philippine National Police (PNP), cried foul yesterday over what he described as "harassment" from top police officials.

In a three-page letter, Senior Superintendent Jaime Caringal asked PNP chief Director General Panfilo Lacson to reinstate him as chief of the directorial staff of the Southern Tagalog police.

"I respectfully submit that the questioned reassignment is in the nature of a demotion, which is arbitrary, unjust and unfair," he said.

Caringal, son-in-law of former Defense Secretary Fortunato Abat, was sacked from the Southern Tagalog command when his father-in-law openly supported calls for President Estrada to resign from office.

Caringal wrote Lacson and Deputy Director Generals Reynaldo Wycoco and Jewel Canson, about the alleged "injustice" he suffered when he was transferred on Dec. 15 to the Cordillera Administrative Region as director of the Ifugao police command.

He recalled that he raised the matter with Director Reynaldo Acop, director for personnel and records management, but the latter instead "advised me to just retire."

Caringal, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1976, also lashed at Senior Superintendent Nicanor Bar-tolome, the PNP spokesman, who said he was not being demoted because he was among the PNP’s best.

"I take exception to the comments of Bartolome as I feel it added insult to injury. If he considers me one of the best, is Ifugao the best that can be offered to one of the best? Praise undeserved is slander in disguise," he said.

Caringal believes that his relief was politically motivated because he is Abat’s son-in-law.