• He said had the police solved the killing of the late Tapaz Vice Mayor Victor Gardose several years ago, maybe his relative was not also killed

MAMBUSAO, Capiz – Kin of the slain Vice Mayor Abel Martinez don't believe that the killing of the latter was politically motivated.

In a press conference held last week, Brgy. Atiplo village chief Nonong Martinez urged the police to widen investigation and consider other angles aside from politics in determining the motive behind the vice-mayor's death.

"Bilang kadugo ni vice mayor, masakit sa amon ang iya kamatayon nga dapat matagaan man sia sang hustisia, pero dapat indi lang pag i-limit sa pulitika ang investigation sang kapulisan," Martinez said.

"Daw kasubong lang ini sang sud-an sa ibabaw sang lamesa nga kinaon sang kuring kag ang tag-iya pagkakita nia sang ido dayon nia lagas, ang kuring nga nakakaon naga kinadlaw kay ang ido ang napasibandan," Martinez added.

He said had the police solved the killing of the late Tapaz Vice Mayor Victor Gardose several years ago, maybe his relative was not also killed.

CONDEMNATION

Earlier, Mambusao Mayor Jose Alba Jr., together with the local government unit, condemned the decision of Chief Superintendent Cipriano Querol Jr., chief, Police Regional Office 6, to relieve the entire police force in Mambusao for "lack of trust and confidence."

"The Sangguniang Bayan and the Liga ng Mga Barangay passed separate resolutions condemning such move for relieving the entire police force consisting of 27," Alba said during a press conference held at the town civic center last week.

He said the relieved personnel, especially the policewomen, have families they need to attend to, citing some who recently gave birth.

They also hit the top cop for deploying 30 policemen in the area, citing that the assassination of Vice Mayor Abel Martinez was an isolated case.

Alba said that his administration requested 10 policemen from PNP Mobile Force from Manhoy, Dao, Capiz right after the killing of the vice mayor, which according to him, was enough to augment the police in Mambusao.

On his part, Querol said he was not satisfied with the way the Mambusao police handled the Martinez case. He added that they were not cooperating with the investigation.

"I challenge the provincial and regional police to conduct a survey and get the sentiments of the Mambusaonons if they have lost their trust and confidence on their local police," Alba said.

PROTOCOL

Meanwhile, Sangguniang Bayan Member Maria Dee Apostol said Capiz Police Director Dominggo Cabillan failed to follow the protocol wherein the mayor has the right to select among three qualified recommendees for police chief.

"Relieving the entire police force of Mambusao is not the solution to the Martinez case. Rather, it's the addition of policemen," she said.

But Querol told reporters that his decision to remove the entire police force in Mambusao was legal due to "exigency of service."

He cited memorandum circular of the National Police Commission which authorizes the regional director to transfer any police officers sans the approval of a local chief executive.

Querol maintained that he did not violate any law and cited that in the past years, he managed to relieve police from towns in the region such as Escalante, Negros Occidental; Lambunao, Iloilo; and Kalibo, Aklan.*