Bacoor Mayor stripped of police powers

By Ronron
February 9, 2007

Mayor Jessie Castillo of Bacoor, Cavite was stripped of police powers by the National Police Commission (Napolcom) after he was found to have abused his authority when he ordered the closure of the entire police station in his town from Wednesday night until Thursday morning.

In a four-page resolution dated February 8, 2007, the Napolcom, chaired by Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Ronaldo Puno, said Castillo violated the Local Government Code since he rendered the police stations crippled as he also recalled the four Tamaraw FX mobile cars, two L-300 Mitsubishi vans, two Yamaha motorcycles, and one Yamaha motorcycle with sidecar.

“These actions of Mayor Castillo indubitably constitute abuse of authority that the Commission cannot tolerate nor condone. The recall of all the equipment, supplies, and padlocking the police station placed the peace, order and security of the Municipality of Bacoor in jeopardy and evidently crippled the operational function of the Bacoor Police Station,” the resolution wrote.

“The Mayor treated the logistical support extended to the PNP as his own,” it added.

The Napolcom cited Section 52 of Republic Act 6975 (Napolcom law) as basis for imposing the sanction of withdrawal of deputation against Castillo, which goes: “Unless reversed by the President, the Commission may, after consultation with the provincial governor and congressman concerned, suspend or withdraw the deputation of any local executive for any of the following grounds: a) Frequent unauthorized absences; b) abuse of authority; c) providing material support to criminal elements; or, d) engaging in acts inimical to national support or which negate the effectiveness of the peace and order campaign.”

The Commission said if indeed Castillo wants the PNP under him punished for failing in its duty to protect the locals, especially his family who, he claims, has been receiving death threats for the past few days, then the Mayor could have just have taken others actions such as suspension of the police force or a reshuffle.

The Napolcom said Castillo’s action “unnecessarily endangered the lives not only of his family but especially those of his constituents and opening his (town) to probable acts of anarchy.”

With the stripping of his police powers, the local police force will just have to follow orders from the Cavite Provincial Police Office.

Upon Castillo’s order, the Bacoor Police Station and its three sub-stations were closed starting 6:45 pm of Wednesday and were only reopened past lunch time of Thursday.

While he said in his memorandum to the local police that the reason for recalling their offices and equipment is their failure to protect his family and the local population, Castillo claimed in a radio interview that it is in protest to the planned relief of Bacoor Chief of Police Chief Insp. Alex Borja.

Castillo said Borja’s relief is being pushed by Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr. to place his wife at a disadvantage when the latter runs for the Mayoralty race this May against Revilla’s brother, Strike.

Revilla denied the allegation, and said instead that Borja is really due for relief because he is being investigated for the release from detention of an accused violator of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act last January.

The Senator was seconded by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), but explained that the re-shuffle was in accordance with the Napolcom policy for the election season to ensure a “level playing field among all candidates.”/DMS