Relieved North Cotabato police chief to head Cotabato City police office

COTABATO CITY - The Philippine National Police (PNP) Region 12 office has recommended the designation of former North Cotabato Provincial Police Office head Senior Supt. Alexander Tagum as officer-in-charge of this city’s police force.The controversial Tagum figured prominently in the infamous dispersal of some 6,000 protesting farmers last April 1 along the national highway in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato, due to the severe effects of the drought-spawned El Nino weather phenomenon.At least three farmers died and nearly a hundred farmers and anti-riot police personnel were injured during the bloody clash punctuated by a harsh stone – throwing instance and indiscriminate firing of guns.Tagum claimed that members of the left-leaning New People’s Army infiltrated the line of the demonstrators resulting to the exchange of gunfire during the confusion.A government investigating body has yet to decide on the fate of Tagum, who together with North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Mendoza and several other top provincial officials, are being held liable for the gory outcome of the incident.In a communiqué dated May 30, ChiefSupt. Noel Armilla, PNP-Region 12 deputy chief for administration, has informed Cotabato City Mayor Japal Guiani Jr.over the reassignment of Tagum as city police director.Early on, Armilla has primed Guiani in a separate dispatch on his preference for Tagum to lead the city police force, thereby also terminating the sequential assignments of Senior Supt. Emmanuel Peralta and Supt. Noel Kinazo as OICs of same police unit.Guiani said he has yet to weigh matters over Tagum’s new assignment here.