Tuesday, November 25, 2008 Guv won’t file charge vs. man who grabbed her
THE Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) will review the security arrangements of Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, following the arrest Sunday night of an allegedly drunk engineer who ran for Provincial Board member in the 2007 elections.
Garcia told reporters yesterday she was not interested in filing charges against Archimedes Reroma.
“(That is) one of the hazards of this responsibility. But it should not distract or change the way I always tried to reach out to those who put me where I am,” Garcia told reporters yesterday.
CPPO Director Carmelo Valmoria admitted he did not know about the incident until reporters asked him about it yesterday morning.
He called up City of Naga Police Chief Renato Malazarte and learned that Governor Garcia did not want to press charges and did not want to have the incident recorded in the police blotter.
He also said there was no threat to the life of the governor and assured that security arrangements were always in place during the Suroy-Suroy Sugbo tours.
Aside from Garcia’s close-in security, they also provide area security in places of engagement and they also secure the convoy. He said they always make sure that those who are able to approach Garcia are not armed with weapons.
They checked on the background of Reroma and learned that his wife is the municipal health officer.
He also said the governor was not “attacked” but her hand was only gripped.
Reroma, who once ran as vice governor but lost, hurt Garcia by gripping her arm when the governor was about to leave the town.
He was arrested by bodyguards of Naga Mayor Valdemar Chiong and was turned over to the local police.
At the Naga police station, Reroma clarified he was merely trying to get the attention of the governor.
Valmoria, meanwhile, said they will still check regarding the alleged throwing of a rock at a bus, saying they did not receive word regarding this.
Though Garcia has said she is not interested to press charges, Valmoria required Malazarte to submit an incident report.
Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Ronald Roderos, for his part, said Garcia’s security was a priority and that Valmoria and Garcia’s security officer need to sit down to review and improve her existing security arrangements.
Garcia, however, said she has no plan to double her security personnel.
She said she will still continue with her usual sorties in the province to show to her constituents that the government is getting closer to them. (MEA/GMD)
