One Cebu, Duterte group seek transfer of five police officers

BOTH the One Cebu party and the Cebu for Duterte movement requested the regional Commission on Elections in Central Visayas (Comelec-7) to transfer five police officers holding key positions that they suspect to be biased.

Lawyer Rex Fernandez of the Cebu for Duterte camp asked that three police officers of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) and two police officers of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) will be transferred in order to ensure impartiality and neutrality.

Fernandez, who is part of the Duterte Garcia Legal Team, wrote and sent a letter to Comelec-7 Director Jose Nick Mendros for this request.

They wanted the transfer of the following police officers: Supt. George Ylanan, chief of the Regional Special Operations Group (RSOG); Supt. Rex Direlo, head of Intelligence at PRO-7; Supt. Marvin Sanchez, head of the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operating Team (RAIDSOT); Supt. Clifford Gairanod, chief of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO); and Supt. Rodolfo Albutra, chief of the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB).

In his letter, Fernandez alleged that they are “the same officials involved in the 2013 elections use of police elements as armed goons for the Liberal Party”.

“There can never be any honest, fair, and clean election in Cebu if these police officials remain in their post. They are acting as legal armed goons of the Liberal Party. These police officials for the duration of the election period must be transferred and neutral police officials must replace them,” he claimed.

As of this writing, Mendros told Cebu Daily News that he has yet to receive a copy of their request.

But he said the Comelec can only recommend for the transfer and it will still be up to Camp Crame to approve and implement the transfer.