Abra, Philippines – Following the declaration of the Commission on Election placing Pilar, Abra, under COMELEC control, the 30 police personnel in the municipality were relieved on Wednesday, May 04, 2022.
COMELEC Chairman Saidamen Pangarungan, during the 4th COMELEC Command Conference, explained the decision was made through the recommendations of COMELEC - Cordillera Director, Atty. Ederlino Tabilas and Pilar local government unit over political ‘bias.’
“I received confidential reports from our regional election director, si Atty. (Ederlino) Tabilas and also the petition of local government in Pilar disclosing the current bias ng local police detachment sa Pilar, Abra and also 'yung mga threats and intimidation to some supporters of certain candidates sa Pilar,” Pangarungan said.
The chairman invoked his emergency power through COMELEC Resolution No. 10777 ‘to declare an area under COMELEC control in urgent and meritorious cases.’
In response, PNP Chief, Police General Dionardo Carlos ordered the relief of the whole Pilar Municipal Police Station.
“Actually, that police station has about 20-30 personnel, madali naman i-replace 'yan and 'yung personnel na ipapalit natin knows the area. Normally coming from the Regional Mobile Force or somebody who has been assigned before in the town of Pilar. So hindi po magiging problema 'yan. We can immediately adjust,” stated Carlos.
With the order, Cordillera Regional Director PBGEN Ronald Oliver Lee replaced the Pilar MPS personnel with the personnel of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion 15 (RMFB15).
At 2:00 PM, Acting Provincial Director PCOL Castillo Cula administered the turn-over of the Command and Personnel Ceremony.
According to Lee, ‘the personnel of Pilar MPS are now temporarily re-assigned to the Personnel Holding and Accounting Section (PHAS) of Abra PPO, to be deployed immediately to other units to perform election duties.’
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