Benguet police chief sacked over ‘Lando’ casualties

A TREE felled by Lando blocks a pathway in Burnham Park in Baguio City.
EV ESPIRITU

Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento has ordered the relief of the Benguet provincial police chief over a “big number of casualties” in the province struck by Typhoon “Lando” (international name: Koppu).

“I asked the PNP chief to relieve Benguet Provincial Director for big number of casualties,” said Sarmiento in an interview at Casiguran, Aurora where he went with other cabinet secretaries for inspection and relief distribution.

READ: NDRRMC: ‘Lando’ death toll rises to 26 | ‘Lando’s’ wrath

The director of Benguet provincial police office was Senior Superintendent David Lacdan.

Sarmiento said they had warned the Benguet police about the possibility of landslides in the province as the typhoon would bring long spells of heavy rain.

“With Benguet’s terrain, malaki ang possibility na may landslide. May preparation pero kulang (there was a big possibility that landslides would occur. There were preparations, but not enough). The police’s job is to serve and protect,” he said.

Of the 26 casualties from Lando, the highest number of deaths came from Cordillera Administrative Region with 7 persons killed. IDL

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