Two police officials moved to Mindanao

CEBU, Philippines - Two police officials and a non-commissioned officer under the Police Regional Office-7 have been relieved from their posts and were re-assigned to Mindanao. No reason was given.

One of the policemen was the one handling the case on the killing of environmental lawyer Mia Mascariñas-Green, who was ambushed in Bohol last February 15.

Taliño said these police personnel recently received a memorandum order from Camp Crame and there was nothing that they can do but follow the order.

“Yes, mayroong order sila na i-relieved outside PRO-7. Inaalam natin kung anong dahilan kasi may mga regular na rotation ang nangyayari at siguro, isa ito sa reason kung bakit sila na-relieve from PRO-7,” said PRO-7 Director Noli Taliño.

Bohol Provincial Police Office Director Felipe Natividad, Jr. confirmed the relief orders of Superintendent Nicomedes Olaivar and Senior Police Officer 4 Charito Aparicio.

Natividad said he was surprised why Olaivar was relieved because Olaivar has a good record in terms of their anti-drug operations.

Olaivar was the director of Tagbilaran City Police Office where Aparicio was also assigned.

Both suffered the same fate with Superintendent Joel Quintero, PRO-7 Regional Special Operations Group chief, who was also relieved from his post. Their relief orders were issued last March 28.

Olaivar was re-assigned to Region 12- Soccsargen (South–central Mindanao), Aparicio to the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and Quintero to Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula).

Natividad said BPPO’s director for administration will temporarily act as the Tagbilaran City police chief replacing Olaivar.

Taliño said he would seek clarification from Camp Crame, especially on Olaivar’s transfer. He hoped that the relief orders of Olaivar, Quintero, and Aparicio would not affect the cases they handled back in Bohol and by the RSOG.

“Bago ma-relieve ang isang hepe ay dapat wala (na siyang) masyadong (court) hearing.  Kasi yung ibang na-assign malayo doon sa kanilang dating assignment nagkakaroon ng problema doon sa mga court hearings.  Ang mga kaso eh minsan (dahil nga) sa layo, minsan di nila na-re-receive yung kanilang notice sa subpoena…hindi nakaka-attend ng hearing,” Taliño said.

“Anyway, ipa-pa-clarify natin (sa Camp Crame),” he added.

Meanwhile, as ordered by Philippine National Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa, crime laboratories in the region should undergo inspection and inventory.

It came on the heels of the arrest of Superintendent Lito Cabamongan and his female companion during a Las Piñas anti-drug raid last Saturday. Both were caught having a drug session.

Taliño assured that there is no tampering of samples brought to the crime laboratories in Central Visayas.

“All accounted and secure sa ganun walang mangyaring pagbabawas o pagtatago o pagsi-savings ng ebidensya dahil lahat ng ito ipre-present sa korte” he said.

Taliño said they would heed the directive and conduct inspections and that the media are free to cover for the purpose of transparency. — Christell Fatima M. Tudtud, Mae Clydyl L. Avila (FREEMAN)