Espino relieved
Two days before the Sinulog Festival and amid the heightened security preparations, Police Regional Office-7 director Chief Supt. Jose Mario Espino has been relieved from his post and was reassigned to Mindanao.
Espino's relief surprised Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña considering that the police official supervises all security preparations for the Sinulog on Sunday. Osmeña, however, said it will not affect the preparations.
In a special order dated yesterday signed by Director Rene Aspera of the directorate for personnel and records management in Camp Crame, Espino was among the 13 police officials affected by the reshuffling.
He was directed to report to Police Regional Office-10 as soon as possible “via shortest route by any means of transportation.” The order was upon the instruction of PNP chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.
Espino will be replaced by Chief Supt. Robert Quenery from the Cagayan Valley region. Quenery is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1985.
It was not clear why Espino was relieved in the middle of the security preparations for the Sinulog, but Chief Supt. Rolando Felix, Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (DIPO) in the Visayas, said that reshuffling is normal in the Philippine National Police.
Felix was in Cebu yesterday for the Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Council meeting for the Sinulog. He assured that security preparations for the Sinulog will not be affected because everything was in place.
Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) officer-in-charge Senior Supt. Julian Entoma also said that it is now “all systems go” for the Sinulog as far as the security is concerned.
Osmeña likewise believes that it will not hamper the Sinulog preparations.
“Well, everything, the structure for the parade is intact, I hope it would not change. I presume he (new appointed regional director) should continue what was planned,” Osmeña said.
Espino said he received his order Wednesday night and had requested his successor for a ceremonial turnover of command on Monday because he also wanted to finish the novena Masses of the Sto. Niño. The police official said he is also a devotee of the Holy Child.
He admitted that his new assignment would be more challenging compared here.
"Central Visayas is a very easy job and it is more challenging to be assigned in PRO-10, remember PRO-10 is included under Martial Law, not only insurgency, but Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) is also there, so challenging," Espino said.
He also considered it as an advance birthday gift for him.
"I consider it (reassignement) a gift, siguro nakita nila na we are a better officer, to handle yung more challenging job," Espino said.
Espino dispelled speculations that his unceremonious relief has something to do with the allegations that he is receiving payola from the illegal gambling operators in the region. A white paper alleging his demanding P500,000 in weekly payola from illegal gambling operators was circulated to the media few weeks ago.
Espino, however, denied the allegations. He said these were all baseless.
"I think there has no issue on my assignment (sic). It is definitely bereft of truth, it is normal sa mga commanders being allegedly tagged sa illegal gambling," Espino said.
He denied that there is illegal gambling in Central Visayas. According to him, what is operating in the region are the Small Town Lotteries (STL), which are legal.
"First and foremost we cannot say na may illegal gambling sa PRO7, most of the provinces already has STL operators. There is no illegal gambling," Espino said.
Osmeña supported Espino, saying he did not receive any derogatory information against the official.
The mayor said the only rumor he heard was that the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas, Michael Dino, wants Espino out of the region.
“I have heard that Mike Dino is making sumbong, something like that. I think it's more politics but personally I have not heard,” Osmeña told reporters. Dino refused to comment on Osmeña's claim.
Osmeña said he couldn't believe the allegations against Espino because he does not receive any information from a credible source confirming it.
“Why should I believe it? I have not heard any from credible source that he is involve with it. I have no reason to believe it,” he said.
Osmeña described Espino's six-month stint in Central Visayas as “smooth.”
“I had no derogatory report about him except this chismis that Dino wanted him out. Maybe it affects the dirty business of the other side,” he said.
Aside from Espino, the other officers affected in the reshuffling were Police Director Cedrick Train of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (DIPO) Western Mindanao. He is now assigned at the Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development;Police Director Noel Constantino of the Directorate for Police Community Relations is reassigned to DIPO, Western Mindanao;Police Director Eduardo Garado of DIPO, Southern Luzon was reassigned to Directorate for Police Community Relations;Police Director Benjamin Lusad of Special Action Force is reassigned to DIPO, Southern Luzon; Police Chief Superintendent Elmo Francis Sarona of PRO-Cordillera is reassigned to Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management;Police Chief Superintendent Edward Carranza of Health Service is reassigned to PROCordillera;Police Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Licup of Directorate for Operations is reassigned to PRO-MIMAROPA; Police Chief Superintendnet Wilben Mayor of PRO-MIMAROPA is reassigned to Directorate for Operations; Police Chief Superintendent Timoteo Pacleb of PRO-10 is reassigned to PRO-2.