Entire Cavite town police force sacked

TRECE MARTIRES CITY — The entire police force of this Cavite city was relieved yesterday, a day after supporters of the re-electionist mayor and a rival independent candidate clashed, leaving four people dead and seven others wounded.

This, as some 200 Marines were deployed across the province to maintain peace and order in Monday’s synchronized local and national elections.

The local office of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has placed this city under its control, and is looking into doing the same thing for the entire province.

Senior Superintendent Roberto Rosales, Cavite police director, replaced Superintendent Edwin Fernandez, city police chief, with Chief Inspector Ricardo de la Cruz of the Regional Mobile Group.

Rosales said the entire city police force has to relieved because its members had grown familiar with local politicians, particularly Mayor Melencio Sagun.

Supporters of Sagun and his challenger, Benigno Colorado, figured in a shootout at the Capitol Hills Subdivision in Barangay Lapidario. Two of those wounded were residents caught in the crossfire.

Colorado’s men were on their way to the house of Tess Distor who had sought help because Sagun’s supporters were prowling her home, when they encountered the latter group.

Colorado claimed his men were ambushed. He said they are gathering evidence for the filing of charges against Sagun’s supporters.