Ecija traders urge Razon to explain top cop’s relief

CABANATUAN CITY – A powerful group of businessmen has called on Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. to explain the sudden removal of the provincial director of the PNP whose performance was rated satisfactory by a high-ranking police official in Central Luzon.

Kenny Bansale, president of the highly influential Nueva Ecija Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NECCI), said it was puzzling why Senior Superintendent Napoleon Taas was relieved barely six months since assuming his post when he was performing creditably well.

“Colonel Taas acquitted himself well as a professional police officer and he has done in Nueva Ecija what many others before him failed to do. It’s beyond me why he has to be replaced,” he said.

Speaking at the sidelines of the turn-over ceremonies between Taas and incoming provincial director, Senior Superintendent Ricardo Marquez at the provincial police headquarters Thursday, Bansale said that the former deserves to be retained if only for restoring the peace of mind of the business community in the province.

He said that Taas regained the trust and confidence of the business community for helping reduce the volume of crimes and providing stability to the province. 

Taas, a West Point-educated police officer, was relieved in Special Order 1844 issued last week by Police Director Edgar Acuna of the PNP Directorate for Personnel and Records Management who signed in behalf of Razon Jr.

Taas, a member of the Philippine Military Academy’s Class ’84, turned over the reins of the provincial police to Marquez, his upperclassmen from PMA Batch ’82.

In his speech, Taas failed to hide his disappointment, saying he would be leaving the province with a heavy heart. He said he had been repeatedly asked about his relief. “My standard reply was, for professional officers like us, personal feelings, even family take the backstage everytime duty calls,” he said. 

Police personnel were in tears following Taas’ emotional farewell speech. 

His relief came amid reports that Gov. Aurelio Umali lobbied for his replacement. The relief order came out a day after President Arroyo and Secretary Ronaldo Puno of the Department of the Interior and Local Government met with Umali at his residence in Sta. Rosa last week, shortly after the Chief Executive visited a jathropa project in Fort Magsaysay, Palayan City.

Umali has vehemently objected to the posting of Taas and wanted retained the then-provincial director, Senior Superintendent Agripino Javier. He claimed that the peace and order situation in the province improved during Javier’s watch.

Umali was a no-show in Thursday’s rites. Curiously, not even a single municipal mayor was also present. 

Bansale said that Taas’ relief was unjustified. He said the former police director never took sides with the contending political forces in the province. “Nakakalungkot itong pangyayaring ito (This incident is saddening),” he said, referring to Taas’ sudden relief.