No whitewash in probe of Biñas

CEBU, Philippines - Police Regional Office-7 director Ager Ontog said there will be no whitewash in the investigation of the administrative case against Talisay City police chief Supt. Henry Biñas.

The administrative case was filed by Cebu Daily News correspondent Carmel Matus after she was allegedly sexually harassed by Biñas after an interview inside the Talisay Police Station. 

Ontog also made it clear that Biñas’ relief is only temporary as he will be reassigned back to his post as Talisay City Police Station chief if found not guilty of the complaint filed against him.

Yesterday morning, Matus, accompanied by CDN editor-in-chief Eileen Mangubat, visited the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division to sign the complaint sheet against Biñas as well as the certificate of non-forum shopping.

RIDMD chief Sr. Supt. Patrocinio Comendador said they will request Biñas to report before them to answer the allegations lodged against him.

Comendador said that if they find probable cause on the complaint filed by Matus, they will then forward their report to Ontog to recommend for a summary hearing for Biñas.

Comendador said at the utmost Biñas will face dismissal from the service if he is found guilty of the said crime. 

Meanwhile, the names of five possible replacements of Biñas were submitted yesterday to Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez.

These are Supt. Elmer Lim, chief of Human Resource Development Division-CPPO; Supt. Eduardo Saavedra, Deputy Provincial Director for Administration; Supt. Teofilo Siclot, Deputy Provincial Director for Operations; Supt. Rodulfo Albotra, chief of Provincial Intelligence Branch and Supt. Julian Entoma, Commanding Officer of Provincial Public Safety Company.

Cebu Provincial Police Office director Erson Digal said after Biñas’ relief effective last February 18 he was assigned to the Provincial Security Service Group in the CPPO headquarters.

“Magpaabot lang mi kung unsay desisyon sa mayor. Pirme man ni ready atong mga superintendents,” Digal said. —(FREEMAN)