BAGUIO CITY – The City Council is on the verge of passing a resolution condemning the unceremonious transfer of SPO3 Alberto C. Tadeo, a veteran policeman of the Baguio City Police Office-Traffic Management Branch (BCPO-TMB), to Apayao upon the alleged instigation of Senior Superintendent Gregorio Lim, deputy regional director for administration of the Police Regional Office (PRO) in the Cordillera and declaring Senior Superintendent Lim as ‘persona non grata’ in Baguio City for abuse of power.
The resolution initially authored by Councilor Edgar M. Avila but to be authored by all members of the local legislative body once deliberated stated the act of Senior Superintendent Lim in ordering the outright transfer of SPO3 Tadeo to Apayao simply because he reminded his security escort and driver of violating the city’s number coding scheme is considered grave abuse of power and authority and conduct unbecoming of an officer and a gentleman.
Earlier in the morning of December 19, 2016, at the city public market along Magsaysay Avenue, SPO3 Tadeo apprehended a private motor vehicle for violating the city’s number coding scheme.
Subsequently, the driver of the vehicle and his passengers identified themselves as fellow members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) assigned to Senior Superintendent Lim and after having identified themselves as PNP members, Tadeo reportedly gave them a warning and reminded them of their violation but did not issue a traffic citation ticket to them and proceeded to perform is routine activities as a traffic enforcer.
The resolution noted that in the afternoon of the same day, to his shock and chagrin, SPO3 Tadeo received an order emanating from Senior Superintendent Lim relieving him from the BCPO-TMB and transferring him to Apayao.
While the transfer of personnel is a prerogative of the PNP and no doubt uniformed personnel could not question the same, the resolution pointed out the proximate cause of the transfer of SPO3 Tadeo was his apprehension of the motor vehicle of Senior Superintendent Lim, who is so full of himself that he feels entitled to a privilege not given to ordinary citizens of the city.
For being a sworn duty, the resolution stated SPO3 Tadeo will now face hardship equivalent to cruelty and unusual punishment two years before his retirement which is considered to be undeserving as he is known for his reputation as a hardworking and dedicated police officer who has proven honor and integrity.
Despite efforts of local officials to reach out to Senior Superintendent Lim for a face to face dialogue between the concerned parties to settle the matter, the police official refused to give in to the said request as if he is an untouchable police officer who believes that he is exempted from whatever rules and regulations that are being implemented in the city.
Further, the actuations of Senior Superintendent Lim is considered a dictatorship on his part that he refuses to listen to the clamor of the officialdom and the people to return Tadeo to the city where he has been effective in performing his duties and responsibilities as a police officer. Copies of the resolution will be submitted to PNP chief Director-General Ronald dela Rosa and the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) for their appropriate action./By Dexter A. See#
