Cop chiefs relieved

The provincial police commanders in Cebu and Negros Oriental were unceremoniously relieved from their posts less than a week before the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

A relief is not a punishment. From the Cebu Provincial Police Office, Senior Supt. Edgar Okubo was placed on a floating status. He was directed to report to the regional office’s Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit. He will be replaced by Senior Supt. Manuel Abrugena.

Meanwhile, from the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office, Senior Supt. Edwin Portento will be replaced by Senior Supt. Raul Tacaca.

Portento was directed to report to the Directorate for Logistics in Camp Crame.

Okubo who assumed as provincial director just in September last year said he will abide by the order.

“Mag-comply lang. Wala namang problema. Kumpleto naman lahat for the election preparations… they have seen the preparations and they know ready na," Okubo said.

Portento shared the sentiment.

“Ok lang po. We will abide by the orders from the national headquarters and subscribe to the wisdom of their decision,” he said.

Police Regional Office -7 Director Robert Quenery said the sudden changes will not hamper the ongoing preparations for the May 14 polls.

“Sa Cebu Province at saka sa Negros Oriental, nandiyan naman ang security plan and the reassignment of the provincial directors, while malaking bagay, but still nandiyan naman ang security plan. Ang gagawin na lang sa papalit sa kanila is just to implement it,” Quenery said.

He said the relief of the two commanders is part of a major revamp recommended by an oversight committee that reports directly to Police Director General Oscar Albayalde.

“Actually, hindi lang dito sa Central Visays – it's a nationwide issue. This has been the decision of the PNP oversight committee sa national headquarters that, in their deliberations, nagassess ng performances and came out with this reshuffle,” he said.

The committee has not made its metrics public but a revamp, Quenery said, is a normal procedure that police officers experience often.

If said, however, that Okubo and Portento did a satisfactory job in policing their ranks and in maintaining peace and order.

What would his advice be to the new commanders?

“They report immediately to the respective positions and study and analyze assess the prevailing situations. They have only maybe three days to really get a grasp of the situation in the respective units, just like me. At least may three days pa sila, to internalize and make necessary adjustments,” Quenery said.

He said it is presumed that the Commission on Elections was made aware of the changes.

Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. Lionel Marco Castillano said there is no problem with the movement of personnel during the election period because the PNP has secured permission from the Comelec en banc.

“The Commission recognizes that the AFP is an exempt service and does not fall under the civil service of the law,” stated Resolution 10205 of the en banc.

SURPRISE

Still the changes came as a surprise to many, including Governor Hilario Davide III.

“I'm caught by surprise by this kay hapit na ang election gud and I think they made preparations already,” he said, expressing concern over the timing of the change.

He said the provincial government had a good relationship with Okubo.

“Para nako, he's been doing very well. We have a good relationship, ang police and the province,” Davide said.

Supt. Virgilio Bayon-on, a member of the provincial police staff, said he and other personnel were also surprised by the movement.

"Na-shock ra mi sa mga information nga na receive namo. Wa gyud mi idea nganong na relieve, labaw nag pila ka days kay elections na," he said.

Like Okubo, he said the provincial police is ready for Monday.

"In place naman ang mga personnel, ready naman atong mga personnel from north to south, all seven districts of Cebu province. Siguro, di naman ta angay nga makuan ana bisan na relieve si sir Okubo kay naa naman na atong mga deployment," he said.