The Commission on Election has approved the appointment of Senior Inspector Santiago Rapiz as police chief of Pulupandan, as recommended by Mayor Luis Mondia, and it took effect yesterday.

Senior Supt. Rosendo Franco, provincial police director, yesterday ordered Rapiz and his men to be visible in the town, which has been classified among the areas of concern in the May 14 synchronized elections.

Mondia who selected Rapiz from a list of five nominees submitted by Franco, advised the incoming Pulupandan police chief to do his job as town peacekeeper.

He said the threats against policemen are part and parcel of their job.

SPO2 Ernesto Eneserio, deputy police chief of Pulupandan, had earlier admitted having received threats through a text message, warning him that he may not get his retirement pay.

Pulupandan, which has 15 policemen, has records of electiom-related violence in the late 1980s, and is among the towns in Negros Occidental; being closely monitored by the COMELEC and police because of intense political rivalries. Rapiz replaces Inspector Nestor Tuadles who is on study leave in Cebu.

The relief of Rapiz as E.B. Magalona police chief on Jan. 13, a day before the election period started, was protested by Mayor Alfonso Gamboa who wrote Interior and Local Government Secretary Puno and Region 6 police director Wilfredo Dulay, asking for his re-instatement.

The police is under Comelec control during the election period.

Senior Supt. LazaroTorcita, chief of the Police Regional Office Human Resource and Doctrine Develoment (R1), yesterday said they will ask Gamboa why he thinks Rapiz should be reinstated as police chief of E.B. Magalona.*GPB

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