As election period starts: 3 Negros Occ PNP officials replaced

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — Days before the election period starts today (Jan. 13), three chiefs of police in Negros Occidental were relieved from their posts this week for their alleged partiality for certain politicians.

Senior Supt. Milko Lirazan, OIC of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO), said the relief of the three police chiefs was ordered by the Police Regional Office 6, based on allegations of their biases for certain politicians, and also for their poor performance in the campaign against illegal gambling and prohibited drugs.

Ordered relieved were Sr. Insp. Allan Reloj as Calatrava Police OIC, Supt. Leo Batiles as Escalante City Police OIC police and Supt. Antonietto Canete as Himamaylan City Police chief.

Lirazan said Reloj was replaced by Sr. Insp. Rolly Pondevilla, Batiles by Supt. Jefferson Descallar; and Canete by Supt. Simeon Gane.

Cañete will be the Operations Branch chief of NOPPO, while Batiles will be temporarily assigned to Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr. in Bacolod City, said Liraza, adding that another chief of police is due for relief.

At the onset of the election period, Lirazan ordered the 31 police chiefs of Negros Occidental to ensure that the election in their respective areas will be orderly and peaceful. He also directed them to intensify their campaign against illegal gambling and illegal drugs.

Also starting today (Jan. 13), all policemen serving as security escorts to local officials here will also be recalled, as the implementation of gun ban takes effect, Lirazan said.

Colonel Oscar Lactao, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, for his part said they will assist the PNP in conducting checkpoints in strategic areas of Negros Occidental.

Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) director Senior Supt. Ricardo Dela Paz has been relieved from his post last Friday, after his two-year term ends this month, but according to Sr. Supt. Celestino Guara, head of the PRO-6 Human Resource Doctrine Development Division, there was no relief order yet for Dela Paz as of Friday, only a memorandum circular.

The PRO-6 has recommended to Camp Crame headquarters Sr. Supt. Edgardo Ordaniel to be the OIC of the BCPO replacing Dela Paz, who earlier said he expected the relief order so that the turnover rites can be held.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Joint Security Center headed by Comelec provincial election supervisor Jessie Suarez, has deleted Barangays Banago and Mansilingan in Bacolod City from the list of election hot spots, de la Paz said, adding that there were no more areas in Bacolod listed as election hot spots.

Comelec-Bacolod registrar Mavil Majarucon said they have noted no presence of armed groups, stiff political competition, or poll-related aggressions in the said barangays during the 2010 elections. (FREEMAN)