Comelec head wants Toledo City police chief relieved

CEBU, Philippines - The director of the Commission on Election-7 is recommending the relief of the Toledo City Police Station chief for supposedly failing to assist lawyer Michael Angelo Sarno at the height of a commotion in Toledo City on April 19.

After reading and hearing Sarno's statement, Comelec-7 director Atty. Jose Nick Mendros said he came to a conclusion that Supt. Samuel Mina did not come to Sarno's aid on the night of April 19 that the election officer failed to leave for Negros Oriental.

Sarno was supposed to leave for Calatrava in Negros Oriental that same night to attend refresher training for Random Manual Audit Teams and Board of Election Inspectors.

On that night, Sarno went inside the Toledo City Comelec office, his former workplace, to finish some documents which he would bring to his new assignment in Cebu City South District.

However, he was prevented by residents from leaving the office, suspecting that he brought out sensitive documents.

Toledo City election officer Atty. Gallardo Escobar reportedly had no idea that Sarno went inside the Comelec office.

Mendros said he will bring up his recommendation at the Provincial Joint Security Control Center meeting and will wait for action.    As deputized agents, the police are required to give full security to the poll workers including the election officers, he said.

Sarno, when interviewed, said he is not informed yet of the Comelec-7 director's plan, saying that he is currently concentrating for a peaceful and orderly election in Cebu City South District.

He also has no plans yet to take actions against Mina considering the upcoming elections.

Mina, for his part, denied not helping the election officer, saying he did not know that Sarno was inside the Comelec office.

"Wala g'yud ko masayod sa ilang internal nga kasabutan. Ako nilihok lang kay aduna ma'y reklamo," he said.

Mina said that when the residents surrounded Sarno's car and prevented him from leaving the office, he rescued Sarno and brought him to the police station to pacify the angry crowd.

He said he even called Escobar to proceed to Toledo City. The residents calmed down when Escobar arrived, the station chief added. — (FREEMAN)