La Union top cop sacked over unsolved killings

CAMP FLORENDO, La Union, Philippines – Philippine National Police (PNP)-Region 1 director Chief Superintendent Franklin Jesus Bucayu has relieved the chief of police of Tubao, La Union over unsolved killings and other crimes in the municipality. 

Bucayu said Tubao Mayor Dante Garcia has been informed of the removal of Senior Inspector Luis Liban.

Senior Inspector Benigno Sumawang, human resource development division officer of La Union police, was designated officer in- charge in the absence of a qualified police–commissioned officer assigned at the Tubao police station.

Senior Superintendent Ramon Purugganan, La Union police director, said the peace and order situation in Tubao necessitates a new police leadership. 

“Peace and order in Tubao has been adversely affected by the growing number of unsolved killings and other crimes in the past two months, including the ambush attempt on Mayor Garcia,” Purugganan said.

He also cited the killing of barangay councilman Rodolfo Estoque and former vice mayor Lazaro Gayo.

 Liban will face a probe board of the La Union police.

Bucayu said PNP-Region 1 has launched a relentless drive against criminality, especially in preparation for next year’s elections.

Meanwhile, the chief of police of Pagadian City and eight other policemen from Western Mindanao were sacked for  failing to resolve and their alleged involvement in an investment trading scam.

Western Visayas director Chief Superintendent Napoleon Estilles said Superintendent Kenneth Huelva Mission and eight members of the intelligence section of the Zamboanga del Sur police have been relieved from their posts.

“My order is clear, that I do not tolerate any anomalies under my command. I relieved Superintendent Mission for failure to render a report about the problem in Pagadian City,” Estilles said.

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas ordered an investigation into the operations of a firm owned by a Malaysian-Filipino linked to an investment scam that has victimized pedicab drivers, vendors and even police officers in Pagadian City.             – With Cecille Suerte Felipe