By Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan
MANILA, (PNA) — Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac, PNP-Public Information Office chief confirmed on Wednesday that the chief of police of Zamboanga City has been relieved from his post.
Sindac said Senior Superintendent Jose Chiquito Malayo, Zamboanga city police director, was subjected to an administrative relief “to give him time to rest.”
Malayo, who celebrated his birthday Wednesady, reportedly convinced 23 rebel fighters during the stand-off in Zamboanga City to surrender.
During the stand-off last September 17, authorities initially thought that Malayo had been kidnapped by the MNLF rebels. It later turned out, however, that he apparently negotiated for the surrender of 23 rebel fighters when he returned later in the evening.
Sindac said this process is commonly done after big events, such as the three-week long stand-off between government troops and Moro National Liberation Front rebels that started last September 9.
For his part, PNP chief, Police Director General Alan Purisima, said Malayo “will be accorded with appropriate award in due time.”
But Purisima said that they were still studying the effects of what he did and what really happened that time when he apparently negotiated for the surrender of 23 rebel fighters.