Gov’t officials to probe relief of Iligan City police chief

REPRESENTATIVE Vicente Belmonte Jr. of the lone district of Iligan City and Mayor Lawrence Lluch Cruz are mulling to file a complaint with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to determine if the relief of city police director Raul Diones is well within the Comelec guideline.

Belmonte and Cruz said they want to know if the move has the permission of the Comelec considering that under the law, transfers or re-assignments of any government official such as police chief are not allowed during the election period.

Belmonte said he was disappointed over the immediate relief of Diones.

Superintendent Ronnie Francis Cariaga, spokesperson of Police Regional Office, said Diones was ordered relieved by then Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Director Gil Hitosis from his post as city director of the Iligan City Police Office (ICPO), pending investigation for his failure to prevent two bomb explosions in the city in a span of less than a month.

“Monday’s explosion was the second. The first was last December 24 during his stint as chief of the ICPO. RD Hitosis already warned nga dili niya gusto masundan pa pero nahitabo naman pud,” Cariaga earlier said.

He said the policy of Hitosis to relieve Diones and the other police chiefs is his “shield” in order for his subordinates to work hard to attain peace and order in their respective areas.

At least 10 persons were injured in the blast, the second to occur in less than a month.

“Dili makatarunganon ang maong aksiyon tungod kay wala pa gani molapas ang 24 oras gikan sa insidente ug wala pa usab natapos ang pag-imbestiga sa pag-imbestiga sa Scene Of the Crime Operatives (Soco),” Belmonte said.

He believed that the move has something to do with politics.

“Nagtoo ako nga posibleng babag si Diones sa tinguha sa usa ka grupong politikal nga buot molarawan sa Iligan nga adunay problema sa kahusay ug kalinaw,” Belmonte said. (PR)