BAGUIO CITY—Embattled officials of the Police Regional Office in the Cordillera declined to attend the legislative inquiry scheduled by the City Council on Monday, citing “prior commitments” that were “equally important” for the region’s police force.
In separate letters to City Council, PRO-COR Regional Director Elmo Francis Sarona, PRO-COR Deputy Regional Director for Administration Senior Superintendent Gregorio M. Lim, and PRO-COR Deputy Regional Director for Operations Senior Superintendent Angelito Casimiro said they are willing to appear before the councilors “on future dates.”
They were asked to address issues related to the unceremonious transfer of SPO3 Alberto C. Tadeo, a traffic officer with the Baguio City Police Office, to Apayao province after he apprehended the driver and security escort of Lim for violating the city’s number coding scheme.
PO3 Joseph Canlas, the designated security aide of Lim who was in the vehicle that Tadeo arrested, told the legislators he needed to secure the authority of his boss before appearing in the council’s regular session on a date to be scheduled.
With the police officers’ excuse letters, majority of the council decided to set the next hearing on the Tadeo issue on Monday, Jan. 30, to give them a chance to explain their side.
Councilor Edgar M. Avila already withdrew his proposal to declare Lim as persona non grata in Baguio for grave abuse of power and authority, but the council still wants the police officer to submit his written comment about it.
If they fail to appear on the Jan. 30 hearing, the council will deem it a waiver of their rights to answer the issues hurled at them “without the benefit of due process,” Avila said.
PRO-COR sources told Manila Standard Lim and Casimiro were in their respective offices Monday afternoon, negating their excuse.
Professionals and netizens alike ganged up on officials of PRO-COR on local and social media for unceremoniously transferring Tadeo from BCPO to Apayao for his alleged breach of discipline.
Tadeo reportedly made side comments reminding Lim’s driver and security escort to be models in observing traffic laws, rules and regulations, after used Lim’s vehicle in violation of the city’s number coding scheme. Lim’s driver and security escort reportedly name-dropped the police official as the owner of the vehicle.