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Consolacion Mayor Avelino Gungob Sr. is demanding “respect” from the Philippine National Police (PNP).
But he seems to have forgotten that respect is actually earned. He can’t get it by throwing his weight as chief executive and trying to intimidate the police by cutting off utilities in the town’s police station.
Gungob just did that.
He cut off power and telephone lines to the police station on Tuesday to ventilate his anger over the transfer of two police bodyguards to Ronda town.
He said he wanted to send a message to the PNP hierarchy that local chief executives like himself should be given respect and not be made to look like a “scarecrow” in the ricefield.
The mayor restored the telephone line on Wednesday after realizing unhampered communication is essential in maintaining peace and order. He also blinked on Thursday and had electric power restored.
But the damage has been done.
Policemen had to endure two days without power and relied on flashlights, emergency lamps and candles to illuminate the office.
Mayor Gungob should know better. It’s standard operating procedure for policemen, even the mayor's bodyguards, to be pulled out once charges are filed against them to prevent them from intimidating witnesses and the complainants.
The two bodyguards, along with the mayor, are facing charges of oppression and misconduct filed by Consolacion residents before the Visayas Ombudsman’s Office. Residents complained that Gungob deprived them of using their lots when he opened a road in a mountain barangay.
Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) officials said they are willing to assign new bodyguards but this time, requests for an escort have to be coursed through the Police Security and Protection Office (PSPO), which provides protection to government officials, private individuals and foreign dignitaries.
Police officials are trying to correct the erroneous practice of tapping undermamned police stations to provide bodyguards of government officials. There’s a police unit whose primary mission is to provide protection to VIPs.
But Mayor Gungob insists on those two particular cops as if they were his personal employees. The mayor shouldn't be too territorial about his bodyguards.
Lest he forgets, mayors don’t have absolute control of policemen in their area although mayors can select the chiefs of police from a list of names recommended by the PNP.
Local government executives have “operational supervision and control” over the police under Republic Act 8551 or the PNP reorganization law.
Mayor Gungob should spare the Consolacion police and the town itself his petulant power antics and stop acting like a spoiled child deprived of his favorite toy.
He’s an elected official charged with ensuring the security of his constituents. It’s better to act like one.
