5 police chief nominees submitted to Osmeña

CEBU CITY — Five names have been submitted to Mayor Tomas Osmeña for him to choose who will replace Superintendent Josephus Angan, the acting city police chief.

Members of the Senior Officers Placement and Promotion Board at Camp Crame recently convened and came up with the list of nominees.

Regional police director Rolando Garcia has submitted the five nominees to Osmeña.

Osmeña confirmed that he has received the list, but refused to divulge the names, saying he still needs to discuss Angan’s replacement at an appropriate time.

Angan, who is not in the list, has reportedly filed a five-day mandatory leave effective the other day, records at the personnel division of the regional police office showed.

In his letter to Garcia, Angan said he would look into available schooling and make follow-ups at Camp Crame.

He, however, did not categorically say that he is on mandatory leave.

"I’m not on leave at this time. I’m continuing to perform my mission," he said.

Angan was designated as officer-in-charge of the city police after Senior Superintendent Lani-o Nerez was relieved from the position last April for failing to curb the series of crimes here.

The National Police Commission mandates that an OIC’s term shall not exceed 30 days.

Angan, however, is not qualified to hold the position since an aspirant must be a senior superintendent to qualify for the post.

Section 63 of Republic Act 8551 empowers a local chief executive to choose his police chief from a list of five nominees recommended by police officials. — Freeman News Service