Friday, October 13, 2006 Dads question transfer of Baguio police chief
THE City Council of Baguio has joined the clamor to hold in abeyance the transfer of City Police Director Isagani Nerez.
"We are deeply concerned about your intention to hastily replace the present city director without going through the prescribed guidelines as required," the City Council said in an October 9 letter addressed to Police Regional Director Raul Gonzales.
Claiming that Gonzales did not follow procedure when he ordered for Nerez's transfer, the City Council asked that in the interim, the city director be appointed as officer-in-charge of the BCPO.
Majority of the City Council members, led by Acting Vice Mayor Leandro Yangot Jr., signed the letter.
The councilors stressed that while the PNP conducts a periodic reshuffling of personnel, the local government, in case of a replacement, are given a list of nominees for the position and are subsequently allowed to choose from the nominees.
In the case of Nerez, the procedure reportedly was not followed.
"We are of the suspicion that your abbreviated action to temporarily put in place another PNP officer to replace Nerez bespeaks of your apparent, deliberate and reprehensible intent to bypass the prerogative of the City Government of Baguio in the selection of city director to the Baguio police, likewise a clear violation of the established guidelines in the selection process as prescribed by law," the councilors said.
Nerez has been serving as city director for almost three years now. The PNP normally conducts a reshuffling every two years.
Sun.Star tried to get Gonzales's comment but he is reportedly out of town and is expected to be back on Monday, according to a staff at Office of the Regional Director in Camp Dangwa.
Acting Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. already objected to Nerez's transfer, saying he prefers working with someone who can sustain the peace and order programs of the City Government.
Upon his assumption as acting mayor, Bautista said he never received a list of nominees for the Baguio police top post. (RO)
(October 13, 2006 issue) Write letter to the editor. Click here. Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here.
