Fitial’s action came more than two weeks after DPS Commissioner Santiago F. Tudela relieved Ogumoro — again — from his duties which was concurred by Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos, who was then the acting governor.
Ogumoro was also fired in May by Tudela and Inos, only to be reinstated by Fitial.
The governor told KSPN 2 on Friday that there was a rift between his lt. governor and Ogumoro over Inos’ daughter, who resigned as officer in charge of DPS’ fiscal affairs section last July after Fitial reinstated the deputy commissioner.
“I have to understand how he feels about his family, so I would do the same if it was my daughter — I would protect my daughter,” Fitial told KSPN, referring to Inos.
The governor did not respond to the Variety’s telephone calls.
He told KSPN that Ogumoro was the acting commissioner.
When asked for comment yesterday, Tudela said he wasn’t aware that Ogumoro had been reinstated by the governor.
Tudela said he has been in the states since last month. He did not say why.
On Friday evening, DPS spokesman Sgt. Thomas A. Blas Jr. said he was not aware of Ogumoro’s designation as acting commissioner because there was no memorandum about it.
In his Nov. 18 letter, Tudela told Ogumoro that an “investigation substantiated that you violated the regulations of the department in the form of retaliation. The morale in the department is dismal and our mission to keep the public safe and uphold our laws is being compromised by your actions.”
