Police deployment, honoraria top DILG concerns in Compostela

THE additional cost of augmenting the town’s police force and additional honoraria for day care workers were among the first problems faced by newly installed caretaker mayor Ananias Villacorta in Compostela town.

Villacorta, who succeeded Pedro Noval as regional director of the Department of Interior and Local Governments in Central Visayas (DILG-7), met with barangay officials last Friday to listen to their concerns.

Villacorta said he told the municipal police to assess whether they need additional personnel to keep the peace in Compostela town, which faces a leadership vacuum due to an ongoing election dispute.

The DILG-7 chief said the barangay officials assured him that there is no more threat of takeovers from both contending parties.

“If possible, we wanted the additional police to be on call or we wanted them pulled out of the town,” he said.

About 39 police were added to the 27 existing policemen of Compostela town.

Villacorta said he will also study the possibility of giving additional honoraria for day care workers. He told the barangay captains to list their concerns in writing.

Villacorta said he will communicate with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for updates on the election dispute case between Mayor-elect Joel Quiño, his council and mayoralty candidate Gilbert Wagas.

He said he may be forced to tap Provincial DILG officer Jerome Gonzales or the municipal DILG officer of Compostela since he cannot assume as caretaker mayor full-time.

Villacorta said he still has to meet with the different offices under DILG. Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus