Out of the 35 relieved cops, which include city director Colonel Richard Bad-ang, 23 are police non-commissioned officers , while 11 others are station commanders and their deputies.
Bad-ang was removed as DCPO chief on May 23 while the other officers and PNCOs were ordered relieved on May 22.
In an interview over the phone, Brigadier General Aligre Martinez, director of Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 said that he acted upon the recommendation of the Regional Internal Affairs Service (RIAS) that conducts regular administrative investigations to relieve the said personnel to ensure fairness of the probe.
“Based on the recommendations of RIAS, bilang ako naman ang disciplinary authority, nakita ko naman ang kanilang recommendations may grounds naman, so we acted on it,” Martinez said.
According to Martinez, Colonel Rolindo Suguilon, the PRO 11’s deputy regional director for operations who has been designated to replace Bad-ang was tasked to review the recommendations of RIAS to come up with further administrative actions to ensure due process in giving decisions.
“Yong lahat na ininclude ng RIAS sa kanilang recommendations yon po ang ating tinututukan,” Martinez said.
He said the relief was just administrative based on Philippine National Police standards.
“Anyway pag natapos naman ang investigation at ano ang naging resulta ay ibibigay naman po sa kanila yong due process,” he said.
All relieved officers are currently reassigned at the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Section (RPHAS) in PRO 11 headquarters.
NO STRENGTHENING OF FORCES
When asked about the deployment of Special Action Force (SAF) battalions in DCPO, Martinez said this is a regular force that had been in place beforehand.
“Distributed naman po ang special action force. Pero wala naman po tayong strengthening of force dito. Ang regular deployment naman po sa SAF is naka-anchor naman po yan sa kanilang mandate bilang special action force,” Martinez further said.
He said upon his assumption last April 26, there are two companies already here as regular forces, adding “It has been here long before I assumed post.”
“Regular ang deployment ng PNP force kahit saan dadalhin yan when the law enforcement is needed, hindi naman po yan tina-timing na kung ano,” he said.
The needs of deployment are anchored in its missions and functions depending on the sub-units of the PNP, he said.
ON POLITICAL VENDETTA?
According to Martinez, the PNP leadership stands by its mandate especially Region 11 to strictly adhere to enforcing the law, prevent and control crimes, maintain peace and order, and ensure public safety and internal security with the active support of the community.
PRO 11 Director Brigadier General Aligre Martinez