THE Police Regional Office 7 will be providing police escorts to San Fernando Mayor Lakambini Reluya upon her return to work and once the case against her alleged assasins are filed in court.
The police, however, will not provide the same to Daanbantayan Mayor Vicente Loot.
PRO 7 director Chief Supt. Debold Sinas said personnel from the San Fernando Police have already assigned someone to escort the mayor in her day-to-day business.
He said they already sought permission from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) adding there is a need to provide security to the mayor especially that the suspects of the Reluya ambush are still at large.
“The threat is still there especially that the suspects are still at large. If we can arrest those responsible, then the security threat against Mayor Reluya could lessen,” Sinas added.
Police are set to file charges against alleged guns-for-hire Jerome Labitad and Felix Abacajan Jr. and their cohorts for the Reluya ambush.
Sinas also urged Reluya to approach Comelec if she plans to ask for additional police escorts.
He said other aspiring candidates and politicians can request for police security before the Comelec, but its PRO 7 that will conduct the threat assessment.
Only two police officers are allowed to serve as escorts.
But for Loot’s case, his request for police escorts remains denied since he was included in the list of alleged narcopoliticians named by President Rodrigo Duterte.
“If you are talking about Loot, I will not grant his request for police security because he is in the President’s list. We have been instructed that anyone named in the President’s list don’t qualify to avail of police security,” Sinas added.
Reluya is expected to return to work after she decided to file a leave following the failed attempt against her life but left her widowed.
Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) president Ricardo “Nonoy” Reluya Jr. and two of her staff were killed during the January 22 ambush in Barangay Linao, Talisay City.
Following her husband's burial in Dipolog City, her family decided to let go of her escorts and told them to return to Cebu City. (AYB of Superbalita Cebu/JKV)