Negros Oriental Provincial Police Director Sr. Supt. Noli Romana may soon be transferred to his preferred position as chief of the Cebu City Police.
At the insistence of Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama, who threatened to withdraw the Citys financial support for the City Police, Romana’s name was included in a list of five police officers presented to Rama from where he would pick his chief of police.
Rama told Cebu reporters as saying he is choosing Romana because he is a graduate of the Philippine Military academy. It’s important to me that the Cebu city police chief is experienced and well trained,” he said.
But Romana’s boss, Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo, thinks otherwise.
“I am not satisfied with Romana’s performance in the campaign against illegal gambling and illegal drugs. Wala syang nagawa,” Garbo was quoted by Cebu Daily News.
Garbo also said that a police driver and aide of Romana, SPO1 Somoza Vilan and SPO2 Edwin Pineda, were allegedly caught on video extorting money and had to be transferred after being found to be engaged in illegal gambling.
Romana initially denied knowing these men but eventually admitted that he brought them with him from Mindanao.
He described Garbo’s assessment of his performance as a “big challenge” and he would find ways to improve if he is assigned in Cebu City.