Bicol cop sees 'politics' behind relief

Just two months after he was installed, the regional police chief in Bicol is on his way out, and he is blaming an inter-family squabble for it. Radio dzRH reported Tuesday afternoon that Chief Superintendent Ricardo Padilla blamed "politics" for his relief order, where he would reportedly be replaced by Senior Superintendent Balligi Tira of the Philippine National Police Academy. The same radio report said Padilla admitted feeling sore over the order for his relief, just two months after he was installed as Bicol regional police chief. On the other hand, the report said Padilla's impending relief came amid speculations it stemmed from the "squabble" between Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte (Kampi) and his son, Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymond Villafuerte Jr (Lakas). The elder Villafuerte allegedly went straight to Malacañang to seek Padilla's ouster because he supposedly felt Padilla was siding with his son. The younger Villafuerte was said to have put his foot down against jueteng operations in his turf. - GMANews.TV