San Fernando police chief sacked

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — Central Luzon police authorities yesterday recommended the relief of the San Fernando City police chief on the basis of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) "one-strike policy."

Under this policy, police officers found remiss in their job, particularly in the campaign against illegal gambling, will be sacked. 

The first casualty in Pampanga was Superintendent Nicanor Targa, chief of police of San Fernando, said Senior Superintendent Perfecto Palad, deputy regional director for operations and concurrent chief of the regional anti-gambling task force.

Palad said anti-gambling operatives confiscated two fruit game machines and one video karera in Barangay Del Pilar and one video karea machine at the New Public Market, also in Barangay Del Pilar

"In view of this, I strongly recommend the immediate relief of the chief of police of the City of San Fernando by virtue of the Command’s one-strike policy on the illegal gambling," Palad wrote in his memorandum.

However, Palad has yet to announce the replacement of Targa. There were qualified senior police officers vying for the post.

Video karera machines have sprouted in Central Luzon areas following the stop of all jueteng operations five months ago.

In Angeles City, VK operators are in the war path over areas of operations, Lando So, Jun SaiKai, Jim Marikit, and Paris T. nearly figured in brawl, prompting the city government and the police to drive them away.

VKs were also reportedly rampant in areas near schools in Pampanga, Tarlac, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Bataan and Olongapo City.

In an interview, Targa said he knows that anytime he would be relieved because he has finished his two-year tour of duty.