Gullas: No to Bustalino as Talisay Fire Chief

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu first district Representative Gerald Anthony 'Samsam' Gullas said that he would prefer other fire marshal to be deployed in Talisay rather than Fire Senior Inspector Raul Bustalino, the incumbent Tagbilaran City Fire Marshall.

There were reports that Talisay's current Chief Fire Marshal Senior Inspector Randy Mendaros may be relieved from his post and will be replaced by Bustalino as the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) will have a major revamp within Region 7.

Gullas received a lot of criticism after reports said that he does not want Mendaros to be relieved from his post in Talisay, to which he clarified that he was not fighting to keep Mendaros from being transferred but rather to keep Bustalino away.

"Wala gyud na nako pugngi si Randy. Ang akong gipugngan kanang si Bustalino nga maabot sa Talisay. Daghan, I asked the congressman from Bohol, daghan kaayo siya ug issues didto sa Tagbilaran. Reject siya sa lain nga city, nganong ibutang man siya sa Talisay," Gullas said.

Gullas did not elaborate on the issues against Bustalino, but added that the fire official is being shipped out from his current post because of these issues.

He stressed that he does not want those issues to reach Talisay.

"Ang ako dili ganahan ang reject sa lain nga lugar ari man ilabay sa Talisay," he added.

Gullas said he had gone to the office of Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Diño to ask for help on the matter and receive a positive response from the office.

In his part, Mendaros said that as of yesterday, he has yet to receive any formal relief order.

He said he does not have any problems if the higher office will decide that he would be relieved from his Talisay post, adding that he anticipates transfers as part of the nature of uniformed personnel.

He then thanked all department heads in the city for giving their support to the programs of Talisay's Fire Department.

"Last November 7, nakadungog ko nga naay marelibohan, timing pud kaayo pag-Nov 8-9, meeting namo sa peace and order council hasta sa Disaster risk Reduction Council, didto nagpasalamat ko nila sa ilang support sa Fire Department," Mendaros said.

Mendaros served as Talisay City's Chief Fire Marshall for three years and two months. (FREEMAN)