Cops relieved for failure to foil town hall burglary

LILA, BOHOL, Philippines – Where were the policemen last week when the municipal hall of this town was burgled of at least P300,000 payroll money?

The incident has led to the relief of eight police officers on duty at the time for their alleged failure to avert the crime by still unidentified perpetrators.

Bohol Provincial Police director, Sr. Supt. Constantino Barot, told The Freeman he relieved the eight policemen, whom he did not identify, but retained the chief of police, Insp Gilbert Basalo.

According to the report, the burglars ransacked the mayor’s office and treasurer’s vault and carted away more than P300,000 cash for the salaries of municipal employees. The police station was also in the municipal hall.

The burglary was discovered by an employee the following day, and initial investigation showed that the burglar used an improvised key to open the hall’s roll-up door to gain access to the building.

Mayor Regina Salazar was quoted as saying she held the policemen on duty responsible for the burglary.

Earlier on, the municipal halls of Calape, Balilihan, Catigbian, Duero and Guindulman were also victimized by the burglars and investigations of these incidents are being pursued until now.  - THE FREEMAN