LINGAYEN—Following a confusing weekend when the scheduled turnover ceremony for the provincial police director was suddenly and inexplicably cancelled, the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters eventually published the post last week as “vacant”.

PNP Region 1 Director Ricardo Marquez confirmed that he saw the Pangasinan position included in the list of the positions with notice of vacancy on June 25.

Marquez said he was already on his way to preside over the supposed turnover on June 22 when he received notice from “higher authorities” deferring the event.

Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan said the provincial government was not informed by the police leadership and was left “in the dark” on the situation.

Municipal and city police chiefs in Pangasinan were already present Saturday at the police provincial headquarters here for the supposed turnover when the notice of the cancellation was received.

“The appointment order of Police Senior Supt. Manuel Velasco for the position of the provincial director is revoked at the moment,” Marquez told the media after the scheduled hearing last June 27 on the case filed by Governor Amado Espino Jr. seeking for a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order (TRO) against Senior Supt. Marlou Chan, who was appointed as provincial director in May and relieved effective June 21.

In the meantime, Chan stays as provincial police director in hold-over capacity until the designation of his replacement, Marquez added.

Marquez, who has also been impleaded in the case, said that he attended the hearing to help resolve the problem “as fast as possible.”

The hearing set that day was cancelled and a closed-door meeting was instead held in the chamber of Acting Judge Caridad Villegas-Galvez of Branch 69 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) in Lingayen.

Marquez said, “We are trying to resolve the case amicably outside the court, so we agreed to meet again on Thursday next week,” adding that an out-of-court settlement is “good for everybody”.

NEW DIRECTOR

With the position now declared vacant, Marquez said the new police provincial director will now go through the “normal process”, which is precisely what Espino is questioning regarding Chan’s appointment.

“…Nag-start na ‘yong normal process to scout for the replacement of PSSupt. Chan,” Marquez said.

According to Marquez, the Senior Officers Placement Board at the National Headquarters, Camp Crame has required him to submit a new list with three recommendations for the position as prescribed under standard procedures on appointments in the PNP.

Meanwhile, the continuation of the case’s hearing was set on July 4 with the expected appearance of PNP Director for Personnel and Record Management Catalino Cuy who signed the memorandum order naming Chan Pangasinan police chief in full capacity.

“I’d like to think na magkakaroon na ng magandang development next week kasi I was directed to bring the Director for Personnel dito,” concluded Marquez.

ESPINO’S SIDE

On the side of Espino, his counsel Provincial Legal Officer Geraldine Baniqued, said, “We allow the process to be followed. On their part, they made an undertaking that they will do their best to comply with what is required by the law so we take their word in good faith. We hope that it really will happen.”

She added, “We filed the case because we are hoping that they will follow the procedure. According to them, they are trying so let’s hope that the ball gets rolling.”

In an earlier occasion at the Capitol, Espino said,  “Ayoko na sanang makialam…pero ilagay natin sa proper perspective… I am in charge of Pangasinan’s peace and order pati sa calamities and disasters, ako ang head dyan. Kung titignan mo ang pulis natin, sila ang ating mga deputies dyan; operationally, sila ay under natin. Kami ang susundin nila sa pagpapatakbo ng peace and order at pag-aasikaso ng peace and order situation ng Pangasinan.”

The case filed last month by Espino alleges that the designation of Chan as permanent police provincial director violated PNP and Commission on Elections (ComElec) provisions.–Johanne R. Macob with report from Eva Visperas

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