Marikina City Mayor says PNP accusation ‘unfair, ridiculous’

MANILA, Philippines — Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro dismissed on Tuesday the accusation of the Philippine National Police (PNP) that he withheld support to local cops. He said the accusation was “unfair” and “ridiculous.”

In an interview with reporters, Teodoro denied neglecting the police in his city. He said he was even pushing for the creation of a new P130-million headquarters for the Marikina City Police.

READ: New Marikina police HQ will have spa, indoor firing range

“Even ‘yung mga bagong di-nownload dito na bagong pulis na walang service firearm, we provided for them (We even provided firearms to the new police officers here). I found the allegation very ridiculous to a certain extent,” Teodoro said.

Teodoro is being accused of allegedly withdrawing support to the police in the city, including withholding gasoline supply for police mobiles, not releasing ordinance violation receipts, and even ordering to tear down tarpaulins bearing police hotline numbers.

READ: Marikina City Mayor slammed for not supporting cops

PNP chief General Oscar Albayalde did not mention a name when he spoke of a certain mayor in the Eastern Police District (EPD) who allegedly resorted to “childish acts” after he was not informed that the chief of police in his area was assigned to a new post and was replaced by an acting chief.

He said the mayor was apparently irked after not being informed of the reassignment.

READ: Marikina City gets new police chief

‘Not withdrawing anything’

Metro Manila police director Major General Guillermo Eleazar later revealed that Albayalde was referring to Teodoro, an accusation that the local chief executive vehemently denied.

“We are not withdrawing anything. No. That’s not true,” Teodoro clarified.

Last March, Col. Roger Quesada, Marikina City’s former top cop, was assigned to another post in Mimaropa. Col. Redrico Maranan replaced him as acting chief.

Marikina is also covered by the EPD, along with San Juan, Pasig, and Mandaluyong.

READ: PNP chief hits ‘childish acts’ of NCR mayor for not supporting cops

‘Miscommunication’

“Ang problema kasi ay communication eh, miscommunication,” said Teodoro.

The mayor also denied issuing an order to scrap PNP tarpaulins in Marikina City, saying he does not know where the information came from.

He likewise denied having any hard feelings about the replacement of the new chief in the city.

Teodoro said the PNP should have verified the information first before releasing it to the media.

“Tingin ko nakakasira ito (allegations) sa good relationship ng LGU at PNP. I think these are intrigues being sown by the new chief of police. Hindi ko maintindihan kung saan nanggagaling (I don’t know where this is coming from),” he said. /ee