Quezon motorists assured of safety
LUCENA CITY—Senior Supt. Valeriano de Leon, Quezon police chief, handed the leadership of the provincial police force to Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos in a hastily arranged transfer of command ceremony held at Camp Nakar here on Friday.
De Leon and 15 of his men were removed from their posts by Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas and Philippine National Police Chief Alan Purisima for involvement in an alleged shootout between government security forces and alleged guns for hire in Atimonan town on Sunday.
Thirteen people, including three policemen and three soldiers, were killed in the alleged shootout at a joint police-military checkpoint along Maharlika Highway.
Representatives from the regional police headquarters in Canlubang, Laguna province, were noticeably absent during the turnover of command ceremony.
Preventing vacuum
The turnover was witnessed by 41 municipal chiefs of police and key officials of the Quezon provincial police.
Carlos said the turnover was only to prevent a vacuum in the leadership of the Quezon police. He said the formal turnover ceremony would be held next week.
De Leon hurriedly left after the ceremony.
Carlos assured motorists using Maharlika Highway in the province that they have nothing to be afraid of at checkpoints.
He said checkpoints are normal police operations.
“They should feel relaxed,” Carlos, former public information officer of the PNP-National Capital Region Office, told reporters.
Gun ban
Carlos appealed to all motorists to respect the government checkpoints that would be set up along Maharlika Highway starting on Sunday for the implementation of a gun ban during the election period.
“It’s better for the motorists not to bring guns,” Carlos said.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered the installation of checkpoints in all cities and towns across the country to ensure the strict implementation of the gun ban.
The total gun ban, which takes effect from Jan. 13 to June 12, covers all citizens, except those from government agencies exempted by the Comelec from the prohibition.
