Vizcaya cop chief axed over church vandalism

BAGABAG, Nueva Vizcaya — This town’s police chief lost his post this week apparently for failing to stop parishioners seeking the ouster of their parish priest, Msgr. Emilio Vicente Tugadi, from vandalizing the church premises and other public places.

But Senior Superintendent Romeo Hilomen, provincial police director, denied that the relief of Inspector Zaidee Daculog had anything to do with the vandalism, saying Daculog was on his way out for another assignment.

Hilomen and Bagabag Mayor Victor Castillo belied that Bayombong Bishop Ramon Villena had lobbied for Daculog’s relief.

Earlier, Villena denounced parishioners who had written "discriminatory and offensive" graffiti against Tugadi in the premises of the parish church.

A group of parishioners, calling themselves the Christian Herald Against Lavish, Incompetent and Corrupt Ecclesiastics (CHALICE), are seeking Tugadi’s ouster, accusing him of alleged "corruption and arrogance" and for displaying an "ostentatious lifestyle."

Tugadi has dismissed the charges as "merely fabricated, baseless and malicious." He vowed not to leave the parish, saying, "If they want to remove me, they have to kill me."

Bagabag Vice Mayor Nestor Sevillena said Daculog’s relief was "disturbing," adding he believes it had something to do with the vandalism. — Charlie Lagasca