2 SoCot mayors, 1 NorCot mayor stripped of supervision power over police

KORONADAL CITY - For their failure to address illegal drugs in their locality and other issues, the National Police Commission stripped a governor and 18 mayors of supervisory power over the police, including three from Region 12.In resolutions signed by Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge and Napolcom chairman Catalino Cuy dated October 30, those stripped of powers wereand Zamboanga del Sur Governor Antonio Cerilles Sinacaban, Misamis Oriental Mayor Crisinciano Mahilac Lopez Jaena, Misamis Occidental Mayor Michael Gutierrez Sapang Dalaga, Misamis Occidental Mayor Donjie Animas Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental Mayor Jason Almonte Concepcion , Misamis Occidental Mayor Juanidy Viña Calamba, Misamis Occidental Mayor Ezel Villanueva Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte Mayor Ferdinand Aguinaldo Concepcion, Tarlac Mayor Andres Lacson Angeles, Pampanga Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan Subic, Zambales Mayor Jefferson Khonghun Camiling, Tarlac Mayor Erlon Agustin Ronda, Cebu Mayor Mariano Blanco Santo Niño, South Cotabato Mayor Pablo Matinong Jr Libungan, North Cotabato Mayor Christopher Cuan Banga, South Cotabato Mayor Albert Palencia Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur Mayor Leonida Angcap El Nido, Palawan Mayor Niever Cabunalda-Rosento and Bataraza, Palawan Mayor Abraham Ibba In a statement, Napolcom said it has already served the orders to the officials’ respective offices. It said the decision to remove supervision power of local executives over police in the locality was reachedafter continuous validation by the intelligence agencies concerned, the local chief executives have been identified as engaged in illegal drug trade or activity. The exercise of the duties, obligations, powers, and prerogatives vested unto the foregoing local chief executives as Napolcom deputy under Section 51 (b) of RA 6975 as amended are hereby suspended accordingly, the resolutions added. Based on the consistent pronouncements made by our Chief Executive President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in his campaign against illegal drugs, the involvement of a local chief executive in illegal drug activity constitutes an act inimical to national security. It also said thatthe alleged involvement in illegal drugs of the local officials negated the effectiveness of the peace and order campaign and thus serves as a valid ground for suspension or withdrawal of deputation of Napolcom representatives.The houses of Mayor Palencia and Mayor Cuan were subjected to anti-narcotics raids last year but no illegal drugs were recovered.Guns were seized from Cuan's home but were found to be licensed while a rifle grenade was recovered in Palencia's home that the mayor's aidsaid was planted by raiding team.