BALER, Aurora – Barely seven months ahead of his scheduled retirement in May, the provincial director of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in this province was relieved from his post due to his dismal failure to stop the operations of lo-teng, another form of illegal gambling.
Senior Superintendent Teodoro Saclolo was replaced Wednesday by Senior Superintendent Romeo Teope, a reserved officer of the defunct Philippine Constabulary (PC), pre-empting the former’s wish to retire here.
Saclolo’s relief came as a big shock since many had expected him to end his career here. He was reportedly placed on floating status at the PNP Regional Office 3 (PRO3) headquarters in Camp Olivas, Pampanga.
His successor, Teope, 54, was reportedly handpicked by Gov. Bellaflor Angara-Castillo on the recommendation of Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro. Angara and Teodoro are close friends since their days in the House of Representatives. Teope is a native of San Antonio, Nueva Ecija, the same hometown of Nueva Ecija PNP provincial director, Senior Superintendent Agripino Javier.
Prior to his appointment in the province, Teope was deputy provincial director of the provincial police in Tarlac, Bataan and Zambales. He also had stints in Mindanao and in the provinces of Quezon, Isabela and Bulacan.
There have been reports that Saclolo was sacked because the governor was dissatisfied with his performance, particularly in the campaign to eradicate lo-teng, a form of illegal gambling whose winning numbers are drawn from jueteng and lotto. Earlier, Angara-Castillo expressed dismay over the failure of the police to also stamp out illegal logging activities, particularly in Dingalan town.
The governor and her nephew, Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara have both expressed their view that lo-teng could not possibly thrive without the blessings and knowledge of the local PNP.
Angara-Castillo was reportedly particularly peeved because she promised to institute good governance and the proliferation of lo-teng, amid official denials, had set back her moral campaign.
Sought for comment, PNP Region 3 director Chief Superintendent Errol Pan confirmed Saclolo’s relief, which was signed when retired Director General Oscar Calderon was still PNP chief.
When asked if Saclolo’s relief was the offshoot of his alleged failure to stop lo-teng, Pan said that as far as the PNP is concerned, the police officer had already exceeded his normal two-year tour of duty in the province and so he has to be replaced. “Hindi ganon (it’s not like that),” he said of the cause of Saclolo’s relief, saying that in fact, the latter had overstayed in his post for three months already.