CAMP BADO DANGWA, Benguet: Two policemen based in Abra were ordered relieved of their duties for partisan by Cordillera P/Chief Supt. Benjamin Magalong over the week.

The two were identified as PO3 Raymund Palope and PO2 Jithelo Panigan Tuazon.

Both are VIP security personnel detailed to Mayor Joseph Bernos of La Paz.

They were allegedly involved in partisan politics by escorting individuals to register and beat the last day of registration set by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday, in Brgy. Isit in the town of Dolores, Abra.

Both Palope and Tuazon were also found to be in possession of firearms that were not issued to them.

“ We will not allow our policemen to be used by anybody to protect their dubious activities and political interests regardless whether they are incumbent or powerful political leaders of any political party,” Magalong stressed.

Elements of the Abra Provincial Public Safety Company led by Chief Insp. Gil Imado, deputy Commander and Senior Insp. Ricky Dangioan of Dolores Municipal Police Station, seized from Tuazon one MP5 sub-machine pistol (caliber .9mm) with one magazine and 28 live bullets allegedly owned by the local government of La Paz and a .45 pistol and one magazine loaded with 7 live bullets.

Initial investigation showed that at about 2:30 p.m. of October 31, 2012, Mayor Bernos allegedly arrived at the vicinity of the Comelec in Dolores town with a still undetermined number of companions who were supposed to be allegedly register in time for the deadline of registration of voters so that they will be able to participate in the May 2013 local elections.

While inside the Comelec office, a heated argument suddenly erup-ted between Mayor Bernos and Armando Bernardino, Comelec municipal registrar of Dolores, on the alleged refusal of the Comelec to register bonafide residents from Brgy. Isit, Dolores.

After the heated argument of the duo, Bernos also allegedly engaged Mayor Robert Victor Seares Jr. of Dolores into a heated argument regarding the same issue and when things seem to go beyond out of control, Mayor Seares sought the assistance of Imado and Dangioan to put things in order.

While at the scene, responding policemen saw that the two La Paz policemen in the company of Mayor Bernos and immediately disarmed them to prevent the occurrence of any untoward incident in the area.

“The relief of our policemen just shows our firm commitment to achieve lasting peace in Abra and that may the incident serve as a wakeup call to Abra politicians to start employing peaceful means of campaigning in order to win and not to harass voters just to stay in power,” Magalong said.