Vizcaya police director gets ‘one last chance’

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — Gov. Rodolfo Agbayani and Bayombong Bishop Ramon Villena have given the provincial police director "one last chance" to prove his worth by not allowing the resurgence of jueteng here again.

This, after Senior Superintendent Jesus Manubay asked for "forgiveness" — and eventually an extended term here — from the governor and the Catholic cleric.

Agbayani revealed that he and Villena decided to give Manubay another chance after the latter vowed there would be no more jueteng in the province under his watch.

"Yes, we have given him (Manubay) one last chance, provided there would be no more attempts to resurrect the illegal (numbers) game here," Agbayani said.

Manubay got the ire of Ag—bayani and Villena after jueteng resurfaced in the province after almost two years of non-existence. He was said to be on the way out after the two lobbied for his relief.

Manubay, assigned here only last December, sought an audience with Villena and sought forgiveness and an extension of his term as provincial police director.

This apparently softened Villena’s heart, and right then and there, the bishop reportedly made a telephone call to Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina Jr. to recall his earlier request for Manubay’s removal.

Before leaving for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last week, Villena even made another call to Lina after learning that the Cabinet secretary had already given Philippine National Police chief Director General Hermo—genes Ebdane the go-signal to relieve Manubay from his post.

Agbayani said he also did the same, requesting Ebdane to withhold his order against Ma—nubay.

Earlier, the outspoken bishop accused Isabela Gov. Faustino Dy Jr. and Chief Superintendent Romulo Sales, Cagayan Valley police director, of having allegedly pressured Manubay to allow the revival of jueteng in Nueva Vizcaya.

Dy and Sales both denied Villena’s allegations, with Dy threatening to sue the bishop for libel.