One Cebu has written the Commission on Elections in Central Visayas requesting the transfer of 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, Lawyer Rex Fernandez of the Duterte Garcia Legal Team said these officers 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 said.
HARASSMENT
Chief Supt. Patrocinio Comendador cried harassment, meant to threaten his policemen.
“Now is not the right time to try to harass or threaten our police officers. It will only taint the morale of our police, which is not good for the upcoming elections,” Comendador told reporters.
The regional police chief said he was not aware of any complaint regarding the 2013 polls.
“They should file charges, no need for harassment. We will not let ourselves be used by any political party,” Comendador emphasized.
When asked for comment, Supt. Gairanod said gubernatorial aspirant Winston Garcia can say anything he wants so long as he does not harass police officers .
“We are here to serve and protect and to remain apolitical in doing our job. I do not choose sides, whatever your color, we will do our job in making sure the elections will be fair,” Gairanod said.
He vowed that the law will be applied to whoever will be caught using “guns, goons and gold.”
In a separate interview, Comelec-7 Regional Director Jose Nick Mendros told CEBU DAILY NEWS that there have been instances when police officials are transferred even at a date close to the elections.
“If there are justifiable and compelling reasons to do so, yes,” he said.
But he said Comelec can only recommend the transfer. It would still be the PNP hierarchy that would approve and implement the transfer.
Acting Cebu Provincial Election Supervisor Eliseo Labaria, meanwhile, questioned the timeliness of the request for transfer of the police officers.
“Last February, these people were appointed by the Philippine National Police hierarchy. So why is it only now that these allegations surface, when they did not question their appointments?” he said.