Police officer eyes raps vs PRO-7 chief

CEBU, Philippines - The former officer-in-charge of the Mandaue City Police Office chief is planning to file administrative and criminal charges against Police Regional Office - 7 Director Marcelo Garbo Jr. and his deputy for administration, Chief Supt. Samuel Yordan for alleged harassment.

Supt. Vicente Mersan Premne is consulting with his legal counsel after Garbo sent on Thursday at least 20 policemen from the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) – 7 to stop him and his family from entering their house at PC Hills, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City.

PRO-7 has also cut the water and electric connection of Premne’s house.

Premne said PRO-7 placed a 6x6 truck in front his house and prevented his children, aged 16 and 15, from entering their house.

He admitted to The FREEMAN that he received a notice to vacate from PRO-7 in 2008 though former PRO-7 Director Ronald Roderos who reportedly gave him the “privilege” to live inside PC Hills until his retirement.

Holding on to Roderos’ words, Premne renovated his house using his own money believing that it would be the place where he will retire.

However, he said, someone from PRO-7 worked for his transfer to Zamboanga so the PRO-7 can give his house to another officer who is assigned in the region.

Premne appealed to PRO-7 several times but these were denied. He also sought help from Assistant Ombudsman Virginia Palanca-Santiago to try to convince PRO-7 to give them time to vacate their house but the PRO-7 denied his requests. 

When Garbo assumed his post PRO-7 sent yet another notice for Premne and his family to vacate, citing the Philippine National Police housing policy stating that police officers who are no longer connected with the PRO-7 should give other officers the chance to live inside the PC Hills.

In fact, Garbo told The FREEMAN, they have been asking Premne to vacate his house since he was the PRO-7 chief of staff in 2008, adding that officers at that time were a bit lenient on his case which extended his stay.

“He is already overstaying. The bottom-line is that he is no longer a member of the PRO-7,” Garbo said.

Garbo said they are ready to face whatever charges Premne plans to file against him and any officers of PRO-7. He said PRO-7 also filed an administrative case again Premne for disobedience.

Premne is currently assigned as chief of the maritime mobile unit in Zamboanga.  (FREEMAN)