MANILA, Philippines?Barely 24 hours after being appointed officer-in-charge of the Manila Police District (MPD) in the wake of the bloody Monday hostage crisis, Senior Supt. Francisco Villaroman was replaced late Thursday reportedly because of objections from the Chinese-Filipino community.

A hostage crisis management expert and a veteran of anti-insurgency operations, Villaroman was appointed on Wednesday night to replace Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay as head of the MPD, some of whose members are being investigated for the botched hostage rescue that ended tragically.

Chief Supt. Roberto Rongavilla, former deputy director for administration of the National Capital Region Police Office, was appointed to replace Villaroman, who will be returned to his former post at the Police Regional Office 12.

Asked why he was being replaced, Villaroman said that it was the decision of Philippine National Police Chief Director Gen. Jesus Verzosa. He said he would follow orders and vacate the seat.

There were reports that Villaroman was replaced after members of the Chinese-Filipino community raised objections to his appointment because of a kidnapping case that he is facing before the Office of the Ombudsman involving the disappearance of two Hong Kong residents in 1998 and 1999.

Anti-crime crusader Teresita Ang See said Villaroman who she said was ?a good officer with extensive experience,? was an ?unfortunate casualty? of the hostage fiasco.

Ang See yesterday called on the Ombudsman to throw out the kidnapping charges against Villaroman, saying it had no basis.

But she said she was not in favor of Villaroman?s appointment as acting MPD chief, ?only on the grounds of ill-timing.?

?There is no basis to the charges against him but it will be difficult for us to explain this to Hong Kong...it will appear to them that we are appointing someone whose [reputation] is doubtful,? she said in a phone interview.

?We cannot add fuel to the fire... we have to let the world forget the tragedy slowly,? she said.

Ang See said charges were filed against Villaroman and other police officers for allegedly abducting two Hong Kong residents?Chong Hiu Ming and Wong Kam Chong?in the Philippines in 1998 and 1999.

But she said the cases were filed nine years ago by a drug syndicate allegedly belonging to the Hong Kong Triad who knew the loopholes of Philippine laws, in retaliation against the policemen for performing their jobs efficiently.