Lapu police chief faces relief

CEBU, Philippines -Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LLCPO) will soon have a new chief, said Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza.

 The mayor said that Sr. Supt. Anthony Obenza, who has been with the LLCPO for almost two years now, will soon be relieved from his position.

 Obenza will be replaced by Sr. Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, chief of the Regional Intelligence Division. Lawas will sit as officer-in-charge while Radaza waits for the official list of policemen from where she will choose the new LLCPO director.

Section 63 of Republic Act 8551 or the Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998 gives city and municipal mayors the authority to choose the chief of police from a list of five eligible officers as recommended by the Police Regional (PRO).

But Obenza said in a telephone interview with The FREEMAN that he has not received an order for his relief.

“Wala pa ko’y nadawat nga order nga hulipan ko sa akong katungdanan mao nga magpadayon ko sa akong gimbuhaton,” Obenza told The FREEMAN. (I have yet to receive an order so I will continue with my work here.)

 Lawas, for his part, is now at Negros Oriental together with PRO 7 Director Marcelo Garbo Jr. and also said he had no idea he was chosen as OIC of LLCPO. Like Obenza, he also said he has yet to receive an official order about the matter.

 A high ranking official from PRO 7 reportedly informed Radaza of the order about two weeks ago.

Though none of the officials would say what prompted Obenza’s transfer, Radaza, last year openly expressed dissatisfaction over his performance. This was after Obenza allegedly failed to inform her about the presence of cyberpornography in several barangay in the city.

Despite that, though, the mayor had said she will not move for Obenza’s relief although she is challenging him to give his best to address criminality problems in the city.

Radaza is not certain when the official order for Obenza’s relief will take effect.

 Two years ago, Obenza replaced Sr. Supt. Mariano Natuel Jr., who was transferred to head PRO 7 community relations office.

 Early this year, Natuel was relieved from the community relations office and he now heads the Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division (RIDMD).

Aside from Obenza, Sr. Supt. Jonathan Abella is now the new deputy for operation, replacing Supt. Clifford Gairanod while Sr. Supt. Loreto Delelis will replace Supt Pedrillo Villamor as the deputy for administration.— Ryan Christopher J. Sorote, Flor Z. Perolina and Jose P. Sollano/JPM (FREEMAN)