Albay police chief sacked after Batocabe slay

Rep. Rodel Batocabe (Photo from his Facebook account)

MANILA, Philippines — Albay Provincial Police Office head S/Supt. Milo Pagtalunan has been relieved from his post following the killing of Ako Bicol partylist Rep. Rodel Batocabe in Daraga.

Pagtalunan’s removal was confirmed on Monday by the Public Information Office of Police Regional Office 5. Supt. Dennis Rellata was appointed as the officer-in-charge of the Albay police to take his place.

This development came after Supt. Benito Dipad, chief of Daraga Police was also sacked.

Chief Supt. Arnel Escobal, Bicol police chief, said the replacement of Pagtalunan and Dipad was a standing police policy to replace officials in areas where a very important person is involved in an incident. Supt. Dennis Balla took Dipad’s place as acting chief of Daraga police.

Batocabe was killed by six unknown gunmen after a charity event in Barangay Burgos last Saturday afternoon. He was on his last term as Ako Bicol representative and was supposed to run for Daraga’s mayoralty post in the 2019 midterm elections. With a report from Mar S. Arguelles, Inquirer Southern Luzon