The Philippine National Police (PNP) has ordered the relief of the chief of police of a town in Oriental Mindoro who was accused of harassing and threatening PNP Press Corps president and dzMM radio reporter, Noel Alamar.

Chief Supt. Leonardo Espina, PNP spokesman, said Chief Insp. Telesforo Domingo, Pola municipal police station chief, was temporarily relieved from his post pending investigation of Alamar’s complaint.

“He (Domingo) was temporarily relieved to pave the way for an impartial investigation on the case,” said Espina.

According to Alamar, the alleged harassment took place Thursday at around 9:30 p.m. Alamar is currently in Oriental Mindoro to attend the first death anniversary of his mother.

Prior to the incident, the reporter was said to have received information from residents in the town on the alleged involvement of Domingo in partisan activities in their area, which he immediately relayed to Chief Supt. Paul Mascarinas, Region IV-B police director, and Senior Supt. Sonny Ricablanca, Oriental Mindoro provincial police director. Both police officials reportedly agreed to look into the information.

On Thursday night, Domingo along with a team of policemen, reportedly arrived at Alamar’s residence on board a mobile patrol car. The police chief, who reportedly appeared to be under the influence of liquor, allegedly confronted Alamar and asked him, “Sino ka ba?” then left.

On the same night, Alamar said he went to the residence of Pola mayor-elect Dodjie Panganiban where he again saw Domingo in the company of some of his policemen. The reporter claimed Domingo and the other policemen were carrying high-powered firearms while in civilian attire.