Benguet police exec puzzled by relief over ‘Lando’ casualties

A man braves strong winds as Typhoon “Lando” sweeps across Baguio City, causing Burnham Lake to overflow and trees to fall, blocking a road at Burnham Park on Monday. EV ESPIRITU/INQUIRER NORTHERN LUZON

Even the chief of Benguet police is baffled why Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento sacked him over the casualties from Typhoon “Lando” (international name: Koppu) in their province.

Senior Superintendent David Lacdan, officer-in-charge of the Benguet Provincial Police, was ordered relieved by Sarmiento on Wednesday morning.

READ: Benguet police chief sacked over ‘Lando’ casualties

In his interview in Casiguran, Aurora, Sarmiento said he sacked Lacdan over a “big number” of casualties after Typhoon Lando—since downgraded into tropical depression—wreaked havoc in northern Luzon provinces, particularly in Benguet.

Although the disaster mitigation council recorded 7 fatalities in the entire Cordillera Region, Lacdan said there have been 14 persons killed in Benguet as of latest.

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

Lacdan, in a phone interview, said most of the 14 casualties died in landslides.

“I have not received a reason for my relief. If this is about the typhoon, maybe our actions fell short of expectations,” Lacdan said.

“But maybe I will find out in the coming days. I will just accept whatever the order will be,” he said.

With the current situation in Benguet, Sarmiento was disappointed with the provincial police’s lack of preparation for the typhoon.

The secretary 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.

Because of OIC capacity?

Lacdan is currently in OIC status since he took office at the Benguet Police Provincial Office last May.

He said this could also be the reason for his relief–that maybe Sarmiento wants a full-time provincial director for Benguet police.

“Maybe because I am designated only as OIC. Another is, I only have less than a year in service because I am retiring by June next year. Maybe it’s time that to have a full-time Benguet PD (police director),” he said in a separate statement to INQUIRER.net.

Lacdan will be temporarily replaced by Senior Superintendent David Peredo.

He was formerly the chief of regional operations division of the Cordillera police.

While waiting for the reassignment order, Lacdan said he will be staying with the regional headquarters for the meantime.

Asked why the Benguet police chief was sacked over the typhoon casualties, Philippine National Police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor said: “I cannot question the wisdom of SILG.”  IDL