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Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Entire police force in Abra province sacked
By Jonathan F. Fernandez
MANILA -- All uniformed police personnel in the Abra Provincial Police Office were ordered sacked Tuesday "for ineffectiveness in the maintenance of peace and order in the province."
Local Government Secretary Angelo Reyes gave the order to National Police chief Arturo Lomibao.
To be affected by the order are 529 policemen in the province of Abra, including Rodolfo B. Ebardo, provincial director.
Reyes's directive came after a fact-finding team tasked to investigate the deteriorating peace and order situation in the province submitted its findings.
Last month, Reyes, who is also chairman of the National Police Commission (Napolcom), created a four-man fact-finding team headed by Napolcom Commissioner Miguel Coronel, with Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) Napolcom Director Rodolfo Santos Jr., Philippine National Police (PNP)-CAR Director Jesus Versoza and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)-CAR Director Everdina Doctor as members.
The team was directed to look into the peace and order situation in the province, especially the existence of private armed groups reportedly utilized by some Abra politicians.
The neutralization of armed groups employed by warring politicians in Abra is top priority of the regional police.
Reports showed that Task Force Abra and the PNP-Special Action Force were deployed to Abra to disband private armed groups and resolve two killings last February.
In a directive to Lomibao, Reyes said the findings of the Napolcom-led team confirmed the alleged presence of armed groups hired by local officials and their involvement in illegal activities.
The findings also disclosed that cases against some local officials filed in judicial courts and in the Office of the Ombudsman added to the tense situation and create animosity among contending parties in Abra.
(April 13, 2005 issue)
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Brains in slay of journalist still at large