In Negros Occidental: Town police chief, 2 cops relieved for escorting town mayor in fight dare vs guv’s chief of staff

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — The police chief and two policemen of Pulupandan town in Negros Occidental were relieved from their posts Tuesday, a day after they were reportedly seen escorting their mayor who dared the governor’s chief of staff to a boxing match.

Senior Supt. Celestino Guara Jr., acting director of the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office, ordered the relief of Sr. Insp. Edcel Balibadlan, chief of Pulupandan Police, and his men, PO3 Ronald Palacios and PO2 Lelanie Lagoting, pending investigation of media reports, including a TV footage, of the incident.

The three were reportedly seen escorting Pulupandan Mayor Magdaleno Peña in going to the Capitol Monday morning to challenge to a boxing match Provincial Legal Officer Jose Ma. Valencia, chief of staff of Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr.

Peña, estranged husband of actress Plinky Recto, is a relative and ally of Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez Jr., who is challenging the re-election bid of Marañon.

Provincial elections supervisor Wil Arceño said the relief of the three policemen were implemented with the approval of the Comelec, which has rules that only the governor and congressmen are allowed to have police escorts during the election period.

It is considered an election offense for policemen to act as escorts to a mayor during the election period, said Arceño, although Balibadlan denied he was escorting Peña, and he only went to the Capitol to try to pacify Peña.

Guara said the relief was indeed based on the evidence showing Balibadlan accompanying Peña at the Capitol. He reiterated the instruction from the PNP hierarchy that the policemen should be impartial as far as the 2013 elections is concerned.

Valencia, for his part, chose not to show up for the boxing match with Peña, who was seen wearing what the latter called his Jean-Claude Van Damme outfit. Peña allegedly flexed his muscles, and went directly to the Social Hall of the Capitol shouting, “Joval (referring to Valencia), make my day!”

The mayor told reporters he did not eat breakfast so he can be in good form for the boxing match. But apparently, he waited in vain, because Valencia did not show up.

Valencia, who was in his office near the Governor’s Office, only laughed and shrugged his shoulders when asked by the media later on his comment on action of Peña, who incidentally has been disbarred by the Supreme Court.

Last week, Peña had challenged the governor to a debate, and Valencia to a boxing match. It started when Marañon challenged Alvarez to a debate on their platforms of government.

The vice governor however did not come, saying “It is useless to debate because it is not yet the start of the campaign,” for local candidates which will start on March 29 yet.

During this time, Peña issued media statements alleging that the governor bought sheep from Australia with an overprice of between P40 million to P50 million. He also challenged the governor to a debate on the issue.

Valencia at the time said a possible debate between Marañon and Peña is the “height of foolishness.” He said that, while he was not afraid to face Peña, he was not amenable to the proposition because a debate should be between candidates running for similar positions.

Peña earlier said: “I want the governor to make admissions (on the sheep purchase) during the debate, which I can use to incriminate him in the investigation of the Ombudsman and during trial at the Sandiganbayan.” (FREEMAN)