CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The National Police Commission has ordered the suspension of arrested San Simon, Pampanga Mayor Abundio Punsalan Jr.’s powers and control over the municipal police.
This, in the wake of Punsalan’s arrest in an entrapment operation at the Clark Freeport on Aug. 5 by the National Bureau of Investigation where the mayor was caught red-handed accepting part of an P80-million payoff allegedly extorted from Real Steel Corp., a locator in San Simon.
In a statement on Aug. 8, Napolcom vice chairperson and executive officer Atty. Rafael Vicente Calinisan directed the Inspection, Monitoring and Investigation Service (IMIS) to conduct a motu proprio (on its own initiative) investigation on the mayor for the possibility of a full revocation of the authority granted by the Napolcom to Punsalan to exercise operational supervision and control over the police force within his jurisdiction.
The authority includes the power to issue directives on police operations, assign police personnel, develop safety plans, and select a chief of police based on legal qualifications.
“Under the law, mayors and governors are automatically considered representatives of Napolcom to perform these duties, even without a formal oath-taking,” Calinisan said. “Their responsibilities also include overseeing police performance, supporting police seminars and training, and formulating plans for community public safety.”
VM takes mayor’s seat
Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Josephine Anne Canlas has assumed the San Simon mayoralty in an acting capacity on Aug. 7 to ensure continuity of local government services.
“The vice mayor shall automatically exercise the powers and perform the duties and functions of the local chief executive when the latter is temporarily incapacitated,” said Araceli San Jose, director of the Department of the Interior and Local Government-Central Luzon, in a letter addressed to Canlas, citing Section 46 of the Local Government Code of 1991.
San Jose clarified that Punsalan’s arrest “was out of an entrapment operation, which amounts to a valid warrantless arrest.” Punto News Team with PNA, media reports
