PNP spokesman relieved amid controversy on SAF men’s slay

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police has relieved its spokesman at the height of the controversy over the killings of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) operatives in Maguindanao.

PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor was assigned as deputy chief for Directorate for Intelligence and will be replaced by Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr., who served as chief of the PNP Public Information Office in 2012 and 2013.

“Basically, the two police officials will exchange posts,” said a police official. “The movement has nothing to do with the SAF incident. Mayor has been very effective in his job as PNP spokesman.”

Mayor said the changes in assignment were part of career movement but admitted he has no idea what prompted the replacement.

“The decision is not within our level and we abide by the decision of the leadership. We are all professionals,” Mayor added.

Cerbo, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1984, was first appointed as PNP spokesman on April 18, 2012 by then PNP chief Nicanor Bartolome.

Prior to his appointment as spokesman, Cerbo was the deputy regional director for operations of Southern Tagalog.

He held several positions in the Directorate for Intelligence and Counter Intelligence and Security Division.