Jose S. Lesigues, chief of police of Pinamungajan, Cebu

One of the colorful and long serving chief of police of Pinamungajan, Cebu was Jose S. Lesigues. He was appointed chief of police on March 16, 1946.

But like all the other town and cities in the country before the creation of the Philippine National Police, he was not spared of the political division of the town. When new mayor Olegario Y. Ruiz assumed office, Lesigues was charged for falsification of public documents, neglect of duty, insubordination and electioneering. The case filed against Jose S. Lesigues was made on March 15, 1952.

On September 15, 1952 the town council through a committee investigated him and resolved to dismiss chief of police Jose Lesigues. Lesigues appealed the decision of the town council on June 7, 1955. But prior to the appeal, the town appointed a temporary chief of police by the name of Donato Atel. The acting chief of police assumed on July 1, 1954. The appointment was made by Mayor Melquiades Pono who succeeded Olegario Ruiz.

Lesigues fought against his dismissal from the service. However when the new mayor was elected, Jesus F. Nemenzo, reiterated the appointment of Donato Atel as town's chief of Police. The appointment of Atel as Temporary Chief of Police was extended on July 21, 1954.

On June 18, 1956 the Civil Service Commission found Lesigues guilty of the charges made against him and affirmed his dismissal by the town council.

Jose S. Lesigues continued with his quest for justice and never surrendered to retake his position. Then on January 1, 1960 when Mayor Emilio Lomuntad Jr was elected ordered the reinstatement of Jose S. Lesigues.

Donato Atel who was affected by the order of Mayor Lomuntad went to the Court. Atel was assisted by Lawyer Francisco E.F. Remotigue, who became Governor of Cebu. Mayor Lomuntad was assisted by Atty. Consolada M. Lomuntad.

Atel won in the Court of First Instance and his Petition for Mandamus was granted, and Mayor Lomuntad was ordered to reinstate Atel as chief of police. Mayor Lomuntad went to the Supreme Court and on July 30, 1965 the High Tribunal ruled that the dismissal of chief of police Jose Lesigues was illegal. The committee created by the town council to investigate Lesigues of the charges against him by Mayor Ruiz violated Section 1 of Republic Act 557.

The Supreme Court said the committee had no jurisdiction to hear and investigate chief of police Lesigues. It should have been the town council who should have investigated him and required him to answer his charges in a public hearing.

Lesigues continued to serve the town as chief of police. During the 4th Centennial Celebration of the Christianization of Cebu in 1965 Jose Lesigues was the town's chief of police under Mayor Samson B. Cerna. Mayor Cerna was ambushed on January 21, 1970 and died of bullet wounds.