THE police official whom Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama wanted to head the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) has been assigned to the Negros Provincial Police Office (NPPO).
Senior Supt. Noli Romana could still be assigned in Cebu City if Rama’s request gets approved by Camp Crame, Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo, director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7), said.
Romana’s was Rama’s choice to replace Senior Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe who was transferred to Camp Crame.
Senior Supt. Mariano Natu-el has been named as acting CPPO chief.
Rama’s request will be evaluated by the office of Senior Officer and Placement Board (SOPB), Garbo said.
Rama said he intends whatever “remedy” is available to him if Camp Crame and the Office of the President continue to ignore his query on why they skipped his approval in the selection of a new CCPO director.
Rama said that as city mayor, it was supposed to be his prerogative to choose his city director.
But he said finding remedy him will have to wait until after the Sinulog and the campaign period.
Rama said he is also constrained from seeking the replacement of Natu-el with the implementation of the election ban.
“For now that (Natu-el’s replacement) is not my priority. Realist man ko. I have discussed it with Police Coordinating and Advisory Council and Natuel that we should operate under the existing environment,” he said.
“He (Natu-el) is doing everything that he can. I don’t have problems with Jun,” he said./CHIEF OF REPORTERS DORIS C. BONGCAC AND CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON