Fire chief to transfer to Manila

SENIOR  Supt. Aderson Comar, Cebu City fire marshal, is being transferred to the National Capital Region (NCR).

This was announced by Regional Director Ma. Louisa Hadjula of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) yesterday during the agency’s  21st anniversary celebration.

Comar said he knew about his transfer only from news reporters and not his  superiors.

He was replaced by  Chief Insp. William Tacaldo of Dumaguete City

Relations between the fire chief and  Hadjula  became strained after they traded charges of irregularities against each other.

Comar was accused by Hadjula of of dishonesty and falsification for  claiming reimbursements for the repair and maintenance of inoperable fire trucks.

Hadjula yesterday said  Comar’s transfer was ordered by Interior and Local Governments Secretary Jesse Robredo.

“His transfer was done professionally,” she said.

Hadjula said the revamp of the BFP-Central Visayas office affected 80 percent of their personnel and that she endorsed the revamp to the DILG office.

Comar said he was not informed about the re-shuffling that was decided in  a command conference in Bohol two weeks ago.

Supt. Ismael Codilla, asst. regional director for operations and acting Cebu Provincial Fire Marshall was transferred to Bohol. Tacaldo said he was surprised about his appointment.

Until he receives his transfer order, Comar said he will still serve as Cebu City fire marshal.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he will ask Robredo to retain Comar as city fire chief because he displayed leadership in dealing with fire outbreaks and emergencies in the city.

“If Comar wants to go there (Manila) then I will not stop him,” Rama told reporters yesterday. Correspondents Chito Aragon and Edison delos Angeles