LUCENA CITY—Five municipal police chiefs in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) have been relieved from their posts following their failure to arrest wanted criminals in their areas.
Supt. Chitadel Gaoiran, public information officer of the Calabarzon police office, identified the sacked police officials as Senior Insp. Wilfredo Plomos (Magallanes, Cavite), who was replaced by Senior Insp. Aldrin Cabatan; Senior Insp. Franco Esguerra (San Nicolas, Batangas), who was replaced by Insp. Amiel Bernardo Sanhi Jr.; Senior Insp. San Juan Felmar Aquino (Morong, Rizal), replaced by Senior Insp. Randolf Asuncion; Senior Insp. Orlando Gerero (Jomalig, Quezon), replaced by Insp. Reynaldo Labitoria; and Insp. Michael Encio (Plaridel, Quezon), replaced by Senior Insp. Mark Amat.
He said these police officials were relieved effective end of October.
Gaoiran, in a report released Thursday, explained that the relief of the five police officials was due to their failure to cause the arrest of or neutralize wanted persons in their municipalities that have been named in the Philippine National Police’s “Oplan Lambat Sibat.”
Oplan Lambat Sibat is a campaign to arrest wanted criminals in the country.
Chief Supt. Richard Albano, Calabarzon police regional director, said the relief of the police officials should serve as a warning to all chief of police in Calabarzon.
“We are serious in our battle against criminal personalities and I know that the relief of some COPs (chiefs of police) sends a clear message to all chiefs of police of the region that a high standard of performance is expected from them,” Albano said in the report.
Gaoiran said the five police officials are also facing administrative charges for their failure to comply with the PNP order.