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Napolcom to strip Guo of police powers
By J.Lo
“Local officials have supervision over police, so I have instructed Napolcom to initiate proceedings for withdrawal of mayor’s deputization, meaning, after investigation, with sufficient grounds, we would withdraw deputization of Mayor Guo as consequences of privileges attached are revoked immediately, including its control and supervision of its local police,” Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos has ordered National Police Commission (Napolcom) to remove police power of Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo.
At the same time, Abalos disclosed that government lawyers would formally file complaint against Guo after Office of the Ombudsman said that case against her should be forwarded to order preventive suspension against Bamban mayor.
“I want to clarify that DILG,Department of the Interior and Local Government has no power to order preventive suspension against Guo… we have no authority to dismiss individual. ..we also have no power to suspend person even to issue reprimand…that’s not within power of DILG… I want to clarify that because people are expecting,” Abalos said.
He added he could only order investigation and forward result of probe to ombudsman.
“We created task force… seven-man team and we had already submitted our findings to Office of Ombudsman…if they want us to file complaint, that’s not problem…we will file complaint against her,” Abalos said.
The DILG chief has recommended putting Guo under preventive suspension for alleged “serious illegal acts” involving Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGO).
DILG has recommended to ombudsman issuance of preventive suspension against Guo to prevent any influence on continuing investigations of agency and other agencies, according to Abalos.
He did not specify illegal acts committed by Guo, as he said that this is part of courtesy to ombudsman.
Seven-man task force, headed by Benjamin Zaballa of DILG Internal Audit Service, was formed in April to investigate allegations on Guo’s link to illegal POGO in her municipality.
Abalos said they have yet to finish their investigation on the citizenship issues surrounding Guo.
The interior secretary again explained that they would refer any action to the ombudsman, which has the disciplinary authority over elected officials of local governments, and that the DILG has no power to directly suspend or dismiss local officials.
ISKUP! 