Metro Manila mayors want Aglipay ousted

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Jejomar Binay vowed yesterday to resign if Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Deputy Director General Panfilo Lacson could prove that he influenced Metro Manila mayors into signing the petition seeking the ouster of Chief Superintendent Edgardo Aglipay as head of the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO).

Lacson, however, threw his full support behind Aglipay and said he, too, would resign if the mayors succeed in having Aglipay replaced.

Binay challenged Lacson to identify the mayors present in the emergency meeting of the Metro Mayors last Tuesday who claimed that they were "railroaded" and influenced by Binay into asking for Aglipay's ouster.

"Mr. Lacson should identify the mayors who supposedly told him that I am the one orchestrating the call to relieve Aglipay. He should name names or else hold his peace," Binay said.

In a letter to Interior Secretary Alfredo Lim, the Metro Mayors, expressed concern over the sudden removal of several chiefs of police and other officials assigned to local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila without prior consultation with the local chief executive concerned.

"More often than not, the mayors concerned only got to know of the actions through the media," the mayors said in their petition.

Although he presided over the emergency meeting last Tuesday, Binay said that the move to oust Aglipay was initiated by Pasig Mayor Vicente Eusebio.

"If Lacson should blame anybody, then he should blame Aglipay for not consulting the mayors about the removal of ranking police officials in the metropolis. It was the mayors who demanded Aglipay's ouster. It was the collective decision of the body that we all abide by," Binay said.

Sources said seven mayors signed the petition, namely Vicente Eusebio of Pasig, Bayani Fernando of Marikina, Jaime Fresnedi of Muntinlupa, Jose Carlos of Valenzuela, Amado Vicencio of Malabon and Jose Capco of Pateros.

Records at the MMDA secretariat showed Parañaque Mayor Joey Marquez was present during the meeting but left before the petition was up for signing.

Binay also chided Lacson for insinuating that Metro Manila mayors can be dictated or prevailed upon. "The mayors decide on their own based on what they think is best for their constituency. If they do not believe that something is right, don't expect that they can be influenced into saying otherwise," Binay said.

He cited that the Metro Mayors had even written Aglipay last Jan. 17 expressing their discontent over what they claimed as "unilateral" removal of police officials by Aglipay but the latter appeared deaf and blind to their grievances.

"Lacson should recognize that the Metro Manila mayors, in calling for Aglipay's ouster, exercised what they deemed a better option. As the mayors stressed in their letter, there is even already a call to withhold the financial assistance they are extending to the PNP, but they recognize this as being counterproductive, in the meantime," Binay said.

On the other hand, Lacson said he will step down from his post if Metro Manila mayors succeed in lobbying for the ouster of Aglipay, who was only carrying out his orders in sacking police officials remiss in their duties.