Relief of Zamboang City police chief questioned

ZAMBOANGA CITY—A Commission on Elections (Comelec) official questioned the relief of the city police chief, saying it was prohibited by law as the action was done within the election period.

Lawyer Wilfred Jay Balisado, Comelec regional director in Western Mindanao, said he was not informed of Senior Supt. Neri Vincent Ignacio’s relief.

He said the order, issued by Director General Oscar Albayalde, Philippine National Police chief, on April 20, was made within the April 14 to May 21 election period for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls.

Chief Supt. Billy Beltran, regional police director, said Ignacio was asked to join the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) regional police.

“If it were a simple movement, we would have contested it. But it’s a promotion,” Beltran said, noting the Comelec had been properly notified of Ignacio’s reassignment.

Ignacio said he was surprised by the relief but added he would follow orders. —Julie Alipala