GenSan, Midsayap police chiefs sacked
The commander of a police station in General Santos City and the chief of police of Midsayap, North Cotabato were sacked from their posts, following two separate explosions in Central Mindanao on Monday.
Ordered relieved were Chief Insp. Patrich Elma, station commander of Police Station 2 of General Santos City police office; and Supt. Samuel Cadungog, chief of police of Midsayap town.
Director General Oscar Albayalde, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said it was the regional director of Central Mindanao who ordered their relief after the two blasts.
Elma was replaced by Sr. Insp. Davis Dulawan, while Supt. Joan Maganto replaced Cadungog.
The General Santos City bombing wounded eight civilians, who were either passing by or were standing near a pharmacy when the blast occurred before noon.
The explosion in Midsayap occurred at a KTV bar a few hours later that reportedly wounded at least one person.
“We reminded our regional directors in Mindanao area to strengthen their target hardening measures. Of course, their intelligence gathering is also very important to prevent these bombings,” said Albayalde.
The official said they have yet to determine if those responsible in the bombings in General Santos City and Midsayap town belonged to the same group responsible for the two bombings in Isulan town of Sultan Kudarat.
It could be recalled that security officials tagged a faction of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) as responsible for the Isulan bombings. Police have already charged the suspects responsible on the Isulan blast.
The two Isulan blasts killed five persons, and wounded more than 40 others.
Albayalde said the attacks should serve as a constant reminder that there should be no room for complacency when it comes to security in Mindanao.
“We should not relax because these people will take advantage of any opportunity for them to carry out attacks,” said Alvayalde.