75 personnel of Bayawan City police force relieved

Bayawan City in Negros Oriental. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 75 personnel of the Bayawan City police force have been relieved from their positions, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Wednesday.

Pt. Col. Stephen Amamaguid was also designated as the new chief of the Bayawan City Police, in accordance with the instruction of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). Amamaguid was assigned to the Provincial Police Strategy Management Unit and Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office before this appointment.

This major revamp of the Bayawan City police force came days after the assassination of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo and eight others. The gunmen, according to authorities, escaped to Bayawan City after the attack. The cache of firearms supposedly used by the suspects was also recovered by authorities in Bayawan City.

“As per my instruction, all the police personnel in Bayawan City and other local government units in Negros Oriental will be changed. Gen. [Rhodel] Sermonia is now at Bayawan City, Negros Oriental, to implement this order,” DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said on Facebook.

“As per his latest update, Gen. Sermonia has completed the turnover of the Bayawan City police chief and the changing of all police personnel,” he added.

On March 4, Degamo and eight provincial staff, and constituents were killed, while 16 others and three provincial officials were wounded in a gun attack inside the governor’s residence in Pamplona town, Negros Oriental province.

READ: DOJ: Degamo slay case suspects transferred to Manila, willing to cooperate in probe

KGA