Ex-Mandaue police chief allowed to stay longer at police quarters

SUPT. Mersan Premne, who is now assigned in Mindanao, can stay in his quarters in PC Hills in barangay Lahug, Cebu City for two more months.

A Cebu City court issued a writ of preliminary injunction against officials of Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) stopping them from evicting Premne whom officials said lost his housing privileges in the police compound when he was transferred to Mindanao several years ago.

In her March 27 order, Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Sylvia Aguirre-Paderanga instructed Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo, chief of PRO-7, to pull out the policemen assigned to guard Premne’s quarters.

The court said Premne should be given two months to look for another house where he and his family could transfer.

The court asked Premne, who used to serve as Mandaue City police chief, to put up a P10,000 bond to answer for any damages during the two-month stay.

Despite the extension, Premne complained that he was still barred from entering his quarters when he went there last Thursday.

With this, Premne asked the court to take action against Garbo and other officials for defying the court order.

Premne said Garbo and other officials should explain why they should not be held in contempt.

Premne sought the court’s intervention after he was barred from entering the quarters.

But Garbo said Premne should vacate his quarters since he is no longer assigned in Central Visayas. Garbo said only police officials assigned in Central Visayas are entitled to have a residence there./CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON