LINGAYEN—Senior Superintendent Marlou Chan, the provincial police director, has been declared persona non grata by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) and Pangasinan officials are prepared to bring the matter all the way to President Benigno Aquino III if he remains adamant on staying at his post.

The previous week, the SP passed another resolution expressing their “sense of concurrence and support” to the complaint filed by Governor Amado T. Espino Jr. against Chan, urging him to step down as police provincial head.

“We have gone too far in asking him to really consider his stubborn position. I think more important here is not the governor in person but the welfare of the people of Pangasinan in so far as peace and order situation is concerned. Imagine the governor and the PNP director not in talking terms? What will happen?” said Sixth District Board Member Alfonso Bince Jr., author of the earlier resolution.

Bince also said that provincial officials are prepared to organize a rally at the Capitol to press for Chan’s ouster.

“It’s his (Chan’s) own fault that we have to resort to that (persona non grata declaration) as early as December and there was already this move for him to step down and we requested the PNP to replace him but nothing happened,” he added.

The resolution passed last Monday, jointly sponsored by Board Members Von Mark Mendoza, Raul Sison and Ranjit Ramos Shahani, point out that since Chan’s assumption into office as provincial director on May 10, 2013 and even during his assumption as officer-in-charge provincial director in December 2012, he has deviated from normal conducts of newly-appointed police chiefs.

Chan “never bothered to formally present himself and his plans pertaining to the peace and order and security of Pangasinan, to the provincial officials, particularly, the members of the 7th Sangguniang Panlalawigan,” states the resolution.

It says further, “in violation of Comelec rules, PSSupt. Chan displayed tyrannical attitude in causing the transfers and movements of dedicated Chiefs of Police from their respective posts, thereby causing demoralization among the men and women in uniform within the Province of Pangasinan.”

The resolution also outlines that the appointment of Chan violated a number of laws.

“It is the position of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan that the appointment is in contravention of the PNP laws and the Omnibus Election Code, and is in fact subject of a pending case before the courts of justice,” the board resolution said.

Bince admitted that he was hesitant to pass last week’s resolution “because possibly it might affect his (Chan’s) promotion, but he had it coming”.

“The whole trouble is he does not react. Who in particular has asked him to stay despite this attitude of duly elected officials to him?,” Bince asked.—Eva Visperas and Johanne R. Macob

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