Urdaneta police chief sacks due to 41 stolen handguns

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

URDANETA CITY - The beleaguered chief of police here was relieved from his post last Monday after 41 of the government issued firearms were stolen from the police armory.

  OUT: Supt. Marceliano Disamito Jr. Photo Credit:Eagle News

Superintendent  Marceliano Disamito Jr. was replaced by Superintendent Jackie Candelario, according to this city Mayor Amadeo Gregorio Perez IV.

Police sources here said that Disamito is now assigned at the Regional Police Office in San Fernando City, La Union after 41 mostly Beretta and Glock pistols were looted by personnel of the station last year.

“It’s a care taker position,” Supt. Candelario, a classmate of Disamito at Philippine National Police Academy, told Northern Watch through text.

Candelario would be running the station here as he continues to oversee the number three top post as the Deputy Police Provincial Director for Operation of the police force in the 48 cities and towns’ Pangasinan.

IN: Superintendent Jackie Candelario

Perez said that the office of the mayor has nothing to do with the loss of the handguns that were reportedly looted by a Police Officer -3, a janitor, and some law enforcers suspected to be former members of the station’s logistics.

“I don’t have a hand for the relief of the chief of police. That was their internal decision,” the mayor said.

He cited that Disamito could not be directly blamed because it was not his intention that the thieves, some who are now in police custody, would steal and either pawn or sell the firearms.

He also denied that the 41 firearms that were stolen were mostly donated by his predecessor and father Mayor Amadito Perez, Jr.

He said 29 of the handguns were recovered already and returned to this city’s police station.

Police source who asked anonymity cited the P30,000 to P40,000 Beretta or Glock pistol was each sold or mortgaged for as low as P6,000 each.

 Candelario cited that 17 of the 41 lost handguns were already recovered by the police since December 24, 2016 from  various persons like businessmen the suspected police officer, janitor, and the other eight police personnel of the Police Station here had illegal transaction.