by Miriam G. Desacada
Villaba Leyte–Former congressman Vicente “Ching” Veloso of the 3rd district of Leyte had challenged top police officials—PRO-8 Regional Director P/Brig. General Reynaldo Pawid and Leyte Police Provincial Director P/Col. Erwin Portillo—to remove the chiefs of police of every towns of the district, and replace them with new ones, due to the unabated and unresolved series of killing there.
Ching said the latest basis of his challenge to the police top officials were the recent killings of Barangay Captain Elizalde “Otam” Tabon, Kagawad Paul Mandero, and tanod Rusty Salazar at Barangay Daja Diot in San Isidro, Leyte where they were shot dead by yet unidentified gunmen right inside the barangay hall where the victims were working overtime.
Ching alleged that the San Isidro police chief knew that there were five persons targeted to be killed in that barangay by a certain group, but the chief did not do anything to preempt the crime by providing protection to the barangay officials.
“Anyway, (I dare say) these killings are the makings of the police and the police chief could be guilty of reckless imprudence resulting in three homicides. The chief is criminally liable on the deaths of Otam, Paul, and Rusty,” said Ching in mixed Waray and English statement during an interview with the local media.
The former congressman conveyed his dare: “Colonel Portillo, I told you once in Tolosa, Leyte during a meeting with Speaker Romualdez to remove those police chiefs in the 3rd district, especially in San Isidro town where there were many complaints I received from the residents.”
Ching shared the residents’ allegations that they saw the police themselves were the ones escorting individuals who have pending warrants of arrest, namely Junie Saldoan, Rex Permes, and a third one whose name he forgot.
“I am asking (Portillo and Pawid) why is the police deny the request of the town mayors? Why are you against the request of the mayors of Calubian and Villaba to remove and replace the police chiefs in their towns, especially in Villaba where there had been more than ten killings already? The police did not transfer their chiefs,” lamented Ching.
He added: “Why is it that when Mayor Batiancela of Calubian appealed to the police to transfer or replace the town’s police chief, nothing happened? The police don’t want to accede to the request of the sitting mayor and refuse to transfer the chief of police.”
On the other hand, Ching disputed the statement of San Isidro Mayor Bebot Veloso that the three barangay officials were killed because they were about to shift allegiance from their current alliance to the political camp of the mayor.
The local media tried to seek for answers from Pawid and Portillos regarding Ching’s allegations of denial of the mayors’ request to transfer and replace the current chiefs of police in their respective towns. Not one of them has replied to the claims and they have not accede yet to the request for an interview to present their side. —-Miriam G. Desacada