Garcia picks lawyer as police chief

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Police Office has relieved Dumanjug police chief Senior Inspector Arvi Arbuis because of an administrative investigation against him following allegations that two of the arrested suspects in the strafing of the vehicle of a local candidate were mauled inside the police station.

Chief Inspector Fructoso Lim, chief of the Police Community Relations of CPPO, said Arbuis will be replaced by Senior Inspector Julius Ompad effective tomorrow.

Ompad, who is also a lawyer, was chosen by Mayor Nelson Garcia among the five names submitted to him by CPPO director Senior Superintendent Noel Gillamac as Arbuis’ replacement. Lim said the relief of Arbuis will pave the way for the investigation to be conducted by the Provincial Investigation and Detective Management Branch.

Arbuis was earlier accused of allowing some of his men and Vice Mayor Efren Gica to maul Joselito Quirante and Samuel Villagonzalo inside the police station. Quirante and Villagonzalo were among the suspects in the strafing of the vehicle of vice mayoralty candidate Rene Asentista.

Garcia requested for the relief of Arbuis after the incident because of his alleged bias to his political rival. He started asking for the replacement of Arbuis in November shortly after he was suspended by the Provincial Board because of the administrative complaint for grave abuse of authority.  (FREEMAN)