Case still pending but Obenza back at PRO-7

CEBU, Philippines - Sr. Supt Anthony Obenza is back with the Police Regional Office 7 after Camp Crame sacked him out of the Bohol Provincial Police Office.

In an interview with The FREEMAN, Obenza said Bohol Governor Erico Aumentado actually acquired a court order to temporarily restrain his transfer, but the TRO expired before the court could hear the petition for injunction Aumentado had filed.

What happened, he said, was that the case was supposed to be heard last Monday, but the judge in charge, Judge Achilles Melicor of Regional Trial Court Branch 4, happened to be on leave. It was also last Monday when Camp Crame directed PRO-7 Director Lani-O Nerez to implement Obenza’s relief from BPPO.

Obenza is formally out as BPPO director with the turnover of command today. Replacing him is Sr. Supt. Rodolfo Llorca.

Obenza said things “remain to be scrutinized” and that the Governor “is also seeking for the answer.”

“I really don’t know. In fact, the NAPOLCOM (National Police Commission)-7 was also alarmed on this. Anyway, this is part of being in the organization. I’m just following orders,” he said.

Obenza, who assumed as BPPO director last December, was supposed to be replaced by Llorca on April 15, but Aumentado filed the petition in court and acquired a Temporary Restraining Order.

Aumentado contended that the transfer had no basis, aside from allegedly violating the election ban, and without prior approval from the Commission on Elections.

Aumentado, who is seeking to regain his old position as Congressman of the 2nd district, believes politics has something to do with the recent development.

The memorandum on Obenza’s relief was signed by PNP Personnel Management Director Abner Cabalquinto last April 8. – THE FREEMAN