Mayor Garin to lose authority over local police as DILG probes mauling in Iloilo
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Thu, 27 Dec 2018 06:41:38 +0000
THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will strip off police authority from Mayor Oscar “Oca” Garin of Guimbal, Iloilo, for his alleged involvement in mauling a police officer in his town, its Secretary Eduardo Año said in a statement on Thursday.
The mayor and his son, Iloilo Rep. Oscar “Richard” Garin, manhandled PO3 Federico Macaya Jr. on December 26 over the police officer’s alleged inaction on a case that irked the Garins.
“What the congressman and the mayor did was abuse of authority and display of arrogance; a conduct unbecoming of men in authority and well-deserving of punishment. I will not tolerate this kind of behavior and will order the removal of Mayor Garin’s deputation authority over the Guimbal police once the investigation results are out,” he said.
Año said previously the alleged mauling of Macaya by Mayor Garin was a clear ground for the withdrawal of his authority over local police and the filing of criminal and administrative cases against him and his lawmaker-son before the Office of the Ombudsman.
“The President himself was so disappointed and I will ensure that his order to file cases against the Garins will be complied with immediately,” he said.
Section 61 of the Local Government Code of 1991 states that local officials may face administrative charges for abuse of authority, oppression, and misconduct in office.
Macaya will file charges against the two for the incident.
Chief Supt. John Bulalacao, Western Visayas regional director, previously ordered for the removal of the mayor’s two’s police escorts.
Rep. Garin had apologized for the incident, which Bulalacao accepted but reiterated that police would not back down from pursuing charges against them. ROY NARRA
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