4 more mayors stripped of power over local cops

The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has stripped four more Southern Luzon mayors of supervisory and control powers over their respective police forces, reportedly as a result of grave offenses and alleged links to the illegal drug trade.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) confirmed the inclusion of Mayor Roderick Alcala of Lucena City, Quezon among those stripped of authority over the local police as contained in Napolcom Resolution No. 2017-611.

Also included in the list released on December 11, are Mayors of Juan Toreja of Ibaan, Batangas; Bruno Ramos of Bay, Laguna; and Ceasar Perez of Los Baños City, Laguna.

Except for newspaper reports assailing rampant illegal gambling operations in their respective towns, the three mayors have not been linked to illegal drugs.

Earlier, Napolcom released Resolution No. 2017-570 recalling the police control authority of Mayors Eulalio Alilio of Lemery, Batangas; Raul Palino of Teresa, Rizal; Antonio Halili of Tanuan, Batangas; Cecilio Hernandez of Rodriguez, Rizal and Loreto Amante of San Pablo, Laguna over drug trafficking allegations.

It was gathered that Napolcom is empowered to impose sanctions on local executives suspected of involvement in illegal narcotics trade and other offenses, including frequent unauthorized absences.

On the other hand, Mayor Alcala’s connection to illegal drugs is mainly due to persistent reports that he has taken over the drug operations of his uncle, Cerilo “Athel” Alcala, previously tagged by the Philippine National Police (PNP) as Quezon’s top drug lord.

Cerilo’s son, Sajid, has also been charged with a drug related offense and is now under recognizance custody to his uncle, Rep. Vicente “Kulit” Alcala.

Last year, the Quezon provincial police cleared the mayor of any link to illegal narcotics but the recent Napolcom resolution raised speculations that previous police findings have been negated by recent events.

The Alcalas belong to a politically powerful clan in Quezon that is headed by Mayor Alcala’s uncle, former Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.