Vizcaya mayors defy relief order vs provincial cop chief

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya – The 15-member local mayors’ league said it will hold the Philippine National Police “morally responsible” for the possible breakdown of peace and order in the province should it proceed in relieving Senior Superintendent Segundo Duran Jr. from his post as provincial police director.

Mayor Benjamin Cuaresma III of Bambang town said yesterday they have passed a “manifesto” addressed to the PNP hierarchy seeking the retention of Duran, who is the subject of a relief order dated Jan. 16 from the regional police office reportedly on orders of Camp Crame.

In the manifesto, the mayors cited Duran’s firm hand in fighting all sorts of criminality in the province, especially the illegal drug trade.

“Nowhere can this be more true than in my town of Bambang where the drug situation was becoming worse before Col. Duran took over as provincial director. We thus said in our manifesto that we find the police hierarchy morally liable if the crime situation in the province deteriorates,” Cuaresma said.

The provincial government led by Gov. Luisa Lloren-Cuaresma questioned the order for Duran’s relief by filing a petition for temporary restraining order and injunction before the local regional trial court.

The court, after initially granting a 72-hour TRO, subsequently denied the provincial government’s request for an extension of the TRO and its subsequent motion for reconsideration.

“We are not interfering with the PNP prerogative to select its official. We are only asserting the right of the local government in the selection of its police director. Besides, I can’t find any reason for the relief of Col. Duran who has been doing a good job,” she said.

Duran, who is set to retire in November this year, is still staying on at the provincial police office in a holdover capacity pending the court’s decision on the provincial government’s petition for injunction.

This, despite the move of the regional police office based in Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, designating his deputy, Superintendent Domingo Lucas, as officer-in-charge.

The relief order for Duran, who was assigned to the province in July last year, and the subsequent developments, meanwhile, have reportedly caused confusion among local police officers and personnel.

Gov. Cuaresma described Duran’s relief order as unceremonious and doubtful in nature, since the police official has been doing an excellent job of curbing criminality and keeping the peace and order.

Earlier, the provincial board led by Vice Gov. Jose Gambito had passed a resolution expressing its total support for Duran’s retention.

Even Rep. Carlos Padilla, in an earlier interview, said he could not see any reason why Duran was relieved from his post.

Other organizations such as the Nueva Vizcaya Furniture Association and Nueva Vizcaya Police Retirees Association have joined the Nueva Vizcaya Rebel Returnees Association in picketing the residence of Bishop Ramon Villena to seek his intercession for Duran’s retention.

Earlier, Chief Superintendent Ameto Tolentino, Cagayan Valley police director, said that while they acknowledge Duran’s accomplishments, they were merely carrying out orders from “higher authorities” and that Duran’s relief was part of the “normal movement” of police officers in the service.