The police chief who was fired over his 10,000 Typhoon Yolanda death toll estimate will be reinstated as the actual number of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) casualties nears 10,000.
estimate which was not his
Reports said DILG Secretary Mar Roxas assured on Tuesday, November 26, that Chief Superintendent Elmer Soria, regional director of Eastern Visayas Police Regional Office 8 (PRO 8), would report back to his office until such time he recovers from the devastation wrought by Yolanda.
The DILG has not yet specified a date for Soria’s reinstatement but the police general was advised to undergo stress debriefing first before reporting to his post.
Inquirer said while the relieved police general undergoes stress debriefing, Police Chief Superintendent Henry Losanes, former director of the Philippine National Police Maritime Group, will take over as PRO 8 regional director.
His reinstatement received negative feedback from the netizens.
A particular Facebook user said that this police director should demand an apology from Mar Roxas and PNoy, who dismissed the official.
A petition at change.org was also launched to reinstate Gen. Elmer Soria as Chief Regional Director of the Eastern Visayas Police (PRO8) Region.
Earlier reports said that Chief Superintendent Elmer Soria incurred the ire of government officials for expressing his view on Haiyan/Yolanda’s rampage in Eastern Visayas and was dismissed in his post due to his 10,000 deaths estimate. His figure was actually based on the estimates of the Leyte governor, a party mate of President Noynoy Aquino. Instead of criticizing the Leyte governor, the police director has suffered the most, losing his job.
As of the latest count, NDRRMC said that as of 6 a.m, 5,500 were confirmed dead. The number of deaths is far away from DILG’s 2,500 estimated figure but approaches police director’s estimate of 10,000.
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