He was summoned to Malacanang supposedly to update the President on the ongoing investigation into the murder of broadcaster Edmund Sestoso but Sr. Supt. Edwin Portento was instead replaced as provincial director of the Philippine National Police in Negros Oriental.
The “changing of the guards” of the Negros Oriental Philippine National Police Provincial Office took place Thursday morning without the usual fanfare.
And instead of normally holding the ceremony at the NORPPO headquarters at Camp Fernandez in Barangay Agan-an, Sibulan, Negros Oriental, it was held at the PNP Regional Office 7 at Camp Sergio Osmeña in Cebu City, said Region 7 PNP Director Chief Supt. Robert Quenery in a telephone interview.
Senior Supt. Edwin Portento relinquished his post as acting Negros Oriental provincial police director to his successor, Senior Supt. Raul Tacaca, in a simple turnover ceremony, said Quenery.
“Wala nang turnover pa dyan sa Negros Oriental (There will be no more turnover there in Negros Oriental), and he (Tacaca) will assume his post immediately,” Quenery said.
He said that Portento’s relief and Tacaca’s appointment as acting provincial police director of Negros Oriental were issued by the PNP national headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City and were effective May 8, 2018.
Asked regarding the reason for the sudden relief of Portento, Quenery admitted he was “not privy” to it, saying it was Camp Crame officials who issued the orders.
“It was a recommendation from the oversight committee, and I don’t know (why), the orders just came out,” he said.
Portento had served Negros Oriental for about eight months prior to his relief.
Quenery also noted that despite a ban in the movement of government personnel during the election period, the Comelec had approved the relief and appointment of Portento and Tacaca, respectively.
In reaction to Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo’s statement that he was not satisfied with Portento’s handling of the murder case of broadcast journalist Sestoso, the PRO-7 Regional Police Director explained that the investigation would “take time.”
“It will always depend on the evidence that is gathered by the investigator. Well, apparently, some sectors would presume that this could have been committed by a suspect but still, the investigator should always depend on the evidence at hand,” he pointed out.
If the case is not immediately closed, that is because the evidence may not be sufficient, Quenery added. (Judy Flores Partlow/PNA)
