ArchivesNovember 2017Ipe slams COP transfer

Ipe slams COP transfer

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City officials, including Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo and some councilors, have slammed what they think was a “disrespectful” and “sneaky” way of relieving Supt. Jovito Atanacio as the Dumaguete police chief and replacing him with Supt. Jonathan Pineda without prior notice to the local chief executive.

On Monday, November 6, Supt. Pineda assumed his post as the new Dumaguete police chief in an OIC capacity while Supt. Atanacio was transferred to the Negros Oriental Philippine National Police Provincial Office (NORRPO).

This caused an uproar from city officials who sought an explanation from the PNP on why the mayor was “by-passed” by acting provincial police director Sr. Supt. Edwin Portento.

The officials noted that the relief came when the mayor was out-of-town and Atanacio was on leave.

Portento said the relief of Atanacio was imminent because he was already overstaying in the Dumaguete post, as the tour of duty for an officer in a particular post is normally only up to two years.

As a result of Atanacio’s relief, the Dumaguete City Council has recommended for the withholding of the assistance to the police in the 2018 regular budget of the city, until such time the PNP provincial office shall have convinced them that their decision to replace Supt. Atanacio is not being influenced by anybody else and until they are able to see a clearer picture of what had really happened.

The City Council even passed a resolution requesting for the extension of Atanacio’s stint in Dumaguete because of several activities lined up until December this year.

Councilor Manny Arbon said the unceremonious way of replacing the former chief of police doesn’t speak well of the PNP as an organization. “If the police considers the local government unit as partners, they should extend mutual respect for each other.”

Councilors Arbon, Michael Bandal, Lilani Ramon, and Estanislao Alviola said they felt offended with the way Atanacio was pulled out because they were among those who supported a resolution that commended the former chief of police for a job well done in the city.

In manifesting their disgust, Arbon has recommended that since budget review is forthcoming, the proposed Php 5 million aid to law enforcement units and not just the PNP be withheld pending an explanation from the provincial police director.

Critics may consider this as a very small issue, but “a lot of ships sink because they don’t mind the small leakage under the hull,” Arbon said. He further said this kind of relationship needs to be nurtured, and it is not enough to say the police is merely following the policies on the assignments of police officers.

Councilor Alan Gel Cordova said he does not buy the idea that it was an administrative lapse on the matter of the provincial command because even at their early stints as officers, they know very well that the appointment of the chiefs of police or provincial directors should be coordinated with the LGU concerned.

He further said a courtesy call by the new-designated police chief for Dumaguete is a little bit late because courtesies and respects must have been shown before the controversies.

Pineda was supposed to pay a courtesy call Tuesday but the mayor was reportedly in Manila.

Portento explained that the move was based on guidelines of and in accordance with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Police Commission (NPC).

Atanacio has stayed more than two years in the Dumaguete post, and in fact, was already extended for about three months in the same position following a request from the city mayor, Portento said.

There is a need for Atanacio to be replaced already as other police officials in the province are waiting in line to also be re-assigned to their new posts, Portento explained. The rotation of police officers will not move smoothly if Atanacio continued to stay in Dumaguete, he said.

Furthermore, the PNP Regional Office 7 (PRO-7) director, Chief Supt. Jose Mario Espino, told him during a recent conference to make changes within the Negros Oriental PNP organization as some police chiefs were under-ranked, meaning, they were not suitable for their assignments, said Portento.

Also, other areas in Negros Oriental, like Vallehermoso, La Libertad, Jimalalud, Ayungon, Mabinay, Bayawan City, Bais City and San Jose have new police chiefs as well, said Portento.

According to Supt. Portento, he wrote Mayor Remollo in September regarding the prolonged stay of Supt. Atanacio, who was name Dumaguete police chief in July 2015.

Portento said he submitted the names of three police officers to the mayor for him to choose his next police chief but the mayor had asked for Supt. Atanacio’s extension, which Portento granted “as a matter of respect”.

But he clarified that he did not make any commitment for the former police chief to stay on in Dumaguete until the end of the year.

Besides, the tenure of the new OIC police chief, Supt. Jonathan Pineda, is only good for 30 days and the mayor still has the option to make his choice from the list provided him, Portento said.

Portento issued an apology to the mayor and other city officials for the inconvenience caused by the relief of Atanacio but he assured that the new police chief is as equally capable and qualified to lead the Dumaguete police force. (Metro Post/with reports from Juancho Gallarde and Judy Flores Partlow/PNA)

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