Talisay mayor wants city police chief out

Talisay City Mayor Johnny de los Reyes said he wants the police chief removed for initiating “fabricated charges” of arson against him.

De los Reyes said he has lost trust and confidence in Supt. Reycel Carmelo Dayon and three other policemen after they filed a complaint for arson against the mayor for allegedly setting on fire an impounded truck of sand and gravel on Sunday.

“Actually, I’ve heard about him being relieved from his post but I turned a deaf ear. It’s ironic because the city government recently gave him an award,” Mayor delos Reyes said in a press conference yesterday.

Dayon was awarded by the  city government last month for the prompt arrest of three suspects in the dawn shooting of three foreign nationals in a McDonald’s outlet.

The mayor  said Dayon’s performance was “below standards,” quoting Chief Supt. Prudencio Tom Bañas ,  director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas.

Talisay police earlier submitted the affidavit of  trisikad driver Edwin Manalo, as a witness of the truck burning but he later recanted. The mayor said the police misled Manalo to sign a blank piece of paper which he thought was a receipt for his P150 payment for cleaning police vehicles that day.

Talisay Legal Officer Alfredo Sipalay said it appears the police were “fabricating the evidence” and may be charged with  fabrication of evidence, perjury, and held liable for damages.

City Fire Marshal Randy Menderos who is investigating the burning of the truck said they have two affidavits of a worker and a vendor who said   several minors would stay and sleep in the truck or would smoke cigarettes near the vehicle.