3 provincial police heads in Eastern Visayas reshuffled
TACLOBAN CITY – At least three provincial police directors in Eastern Visayas were reassigned from their posts as part of the police organization’s policy to remain neutral as the country is set to hold midterm elections on May 13.
Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos, regional police director, said the three affected officials have been in their posts for at least a year.
“It’s election period. We rotate our field commanders, especially those in the position of at least one year. We want to avoid familiarity with the incumbents who are running in the elections. This way, we cannot be accused of being partisan. This is also for the benefit of the organization,” Carlos said on Wednesday.
S/Supt. Dante Novicio of Leyte was reassigned to Samar province; S/Supt. Nicholas Torre III, Samar police director, assigned as chief of the regional operations division; and S/Supt. Felix Diloy of Eastern Samar was replaced by S/Supt. Lito Bigoy.
The new police provincial director for Leyte is S/Supt. Rolando Bade whose previous post is now occupied by Torre.
Diloy, meantime, was temporarily assigned at the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit.
Not affected by the movements were the police provincial director of Biliran, S/Supt. Julius Coyme, Northern Samar, S/Supt. Reynaldo de la Cruz; and Southern Leyte, S/Supt. Warren de Leon.
The three police provincial directors have been in their present posts for less than a year, Carlos said.
Carlos clarified that the affected police officials were not being relieved. “It’s not that they are being relieved. After the elections, the possibility of putting them back is still there,” he said, adding that all were designated in acting capacities.
Carlos said he has issued a directive to all provincial police officials to ensure that the conduct of the elections in their respective areas would be peaceful.
“They should follow the instructions of the leadership. Make sure that they will be nonpartisan and keep (the elections) peaceful,” Carlos said./lzb
