Cop chief denies rap on getaway cars’ sale

TACURONG CITY — The police chief here has denied yesterday allegations by his provincial superior he had sold three impounded getaway cars used in the abduction of residents in his jurisdiction, dismissing the issue as aimed only at his relief.

Sultan Kudarat’s provincial police chief, Supt. Abubakar Mangelen, has charged Chief Inspector Jaime Guadilla with selling the vehicles, all very old and defective, to private individuals in Tacurong City.

Mangelen said their provincial internal affairs service is now investigating the charges lodged against Guadilla.

Guadilla, thrice voted in recent years as "outstanding police chief" in a regionwide contest, said the vehicles have all been cannibalized even before he assumed his post as commander of Tacurong’s police office.

Guadilla also refuted an earlier pronouncement by Mangelen, that he has been absent from office since March 26 without an approve leave.

Mangelen earlier claimed Guadilla abandoned his post just as investigation on his alleged involvement in the sale of the impounded vehicles started.

Guadilla said Mangelen tried to relieve him and install Chief Inspector Norberto Batislaong as his replacement on the basis of his alleged involvement in the sale of the getaway vehicles.

But the region’s police director, Senior Superintendent Bartolome Baluyot, ordered Guadilla’s retention, asserting that Mangelen is only an officer-in-charge of the Sultan Kudarat provincial police and, as such, cannot relieve and designate police commanders in any town within his jurisdiction.

Guadilla has described as "baseless, unfounded and malicious" the criminal and administrative charges filed against him by Mangelen.

He said it was their higher headquarters, not Mangelen’s office, that approved his sick leave which started late last month. — John Unson