Tuesday, October 09, 2007 New PRO 7 deputy reconciles conflict between 2 officials
BEFORE he could settle in his new post as deputy regional director for administration of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7, Senior Supt. Federico Terte already had a conflict to settle.
Terte called to his office Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) Director Edgardo Ingking and Regional Investigation and Detective Management Branch (RIDMD) Chief Arturo Evangelista yesterday morning.
Ingking had filed a complaint against Evangelista before the National Police Commission (Napolcom) 7 for submitting a report to former PRO 7 director Silverio Alarcio Jr. that “tarnished the good image of the BPPO.”
Last Friday, Napolcom 7 Director Bernardo Calibo approved the recommendation of the evaluating lawyer seeking a summary hearing against Evangelista for grave misconduct and dishonesty.
The complaint stemmed from a report that Evange-lista prepared for Alarcio, stating several “lapses” that the BPPO committed in the arrest of the Casimero Garcia Robbery Group in Bohol.
Evangelista’s report stated that police visibility in Tagbilaran City was insufficient, that there were no specific reactive measures to respond to robbery incidents and that the robbery suspects were able to escape easily.
His report also said that investigators relied on tips from civilians in conducting follow-up operations, allowed security guards to arrest the suspects and delayed the submission of a report to the Regional Operations and Plans Division.
Miscommunication
Terte, who officially assumed his post yesterday morning, met with Ingking, Evangelista, Deputy Regional Director for Operations Drusilo Bolodo and Chief of Staff Arnulfo Perez.
When the meeting was over, Ingking and Evangelista shook hands before the media. They declined to issue statements, though.
“It was a case of miscommunication. But everything is settled,” Terte told reporters afterward.
He explained that the two officers were only human and that it was normal for them to feel slighted.
To avoid similar cases from happening, he said they needed to be careful in their actions. He said this should apply to all officers and not just to Ingking and Evangelista.
Terte said they will validate the lapses that Evangelista pointed out while Ingking will withdraw his complaint against Evangelista.
Courtesy call
He plans to pay a courtesy call to Calibo then bring up the case that Ingking filed against Evangelista.
Terte, who was deputy director of the Eastern Police District, said this assignment is his first in the Visayas.
A graduate of the Philippine Military Academy in 1977, he spent two years in Mindanao before he was reassigned to different police offices in Region 4, Region 5, the National Capital Region and the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.
A native of Pangasinan, he now resides in Lucena City with his wife and three children.
Asked what he could offer the people of Central Visayas, he said public service is what he could offer best. (MEA)
