Davide surprised by Macanas relief

DAVIDE

CEBU Gov. Hilario Davide III was surprised upon receiving the news that Senior Supt. Jose Macanas was relieved from his post as director of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO).

The governor said he talked with Chief Supt. Noli Taliño, police director for Central Visayas, and was informed about the transfer of Macanas, which also took effect yesterday, Sept. 30.

“I was so surprised even when (Taliño) called a while ago. He (Macanas) was doing well ( in CPPO),” Davide told reporters during a press conference at the Capitol yesterday.

Davide said he was also informed by Taliño that Macanas was relieved after he was named as an alleged drug protector by Albuera, Leyte Mayor Ronaldo Espinosa Sr., the father of Ronaldo Jr. or “Kerwin,” the alleged number one drug lord in Eastern Visayas.

“According to RD Taliño, personnel (from the Philippine National Police) headquarters informed him that Macanas was allegedly implicated by Mayor Espinosa because he was once a city (police) director before sa Ormoc,” Davide said partly in Cebuano.

But Davide said Macanas might have been just included in Mayor Espinosa’s so-called narco list because he wanted to get back at the police officer for previously arresting Kerwin on illegal drug charges. Kerwin, whose whereabouts remain unknown, has had several illegal drug cases, but these all were dropped for lack of evidence to pin him down.

Davide noted that Macanas had done well in the three months that he headed the CPPO and that he had forged a “very good working relationship” with Capitol even in that short period.
“Sayangan ko ba, maayo kaayo siya og performance (It’s a waste. His performance was really good),” Davide said.

Davide said he was looking forward to working side by side with the new CPPO director and hoped they would have a good working relationship.