A GOVERNOR and 18 mayors were stripped of their supervision and control over the police for their alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.
A resolution signed by National Police Commission chairman and Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge Catalino Cuy stripped Zamboanga del Sur Gov. Antonio Cerilles of his power over the police.
Also stripped of their police powers were Angeles, Pampanga Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan; Banga, South Cotabato Mayor Albert Palencia; Bataraza, Palawan Mayor Abraham Ibba; Calamba, Misamis Occidental Mayor Ezel Villanueva; Camiling, Tarlac Mayor Erlon Agustin; Concepcion , Misamis Occidental Mayor Juanidy Viña; Concepcion, Tarlac Mayor Andres Lacson; El Nido, Palawan Mayor Niever Cabunalda-Rosento; Libungan, North Cotabato Mayor Christopher Cuan; Lopez Jaena, Misamis Occidental Mayor Michael Gutierrez; Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur Mayor Leonida Angcap; Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental Mayor Jason Almonte; Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte Mayor Ferdinand Aguinaldo; Ronda, Cebu Mayor Mariano Blanco; Santo Niño, South Cotabato Mayor Pablo Matinong Jr.; Sapang Dalaga, Misamis Occidental Mayor Donjie Animas; Sinacaban, Misamis Oriental Mayor Crisinciano Mahilac; and Subic, Zambales Mayor Jefferson Khonghun;
Earlier, the Napolcom had issued a similar resolution against Lemery, Batangas Mayor Eulalio Alilio; Teresa, Rizal Mayor Raul Palino; Tanauan, Batangas Mayor Antonio Halili; Rodriguez, Rizal Mayor Cecilio Hernandez; and San Pablo Mayor Loreto Amante.
The resolutions said that validation by intelligence agencies had shown the mayors were engaged in illegal drug activity, which was a valid ground for stripping them of their power over the police.