Garbo: Premne still barred from quarters

CEBU, Philippines - Police Regional Office-7 Director Marcelo Garbo Jr. insists in preventing Sr. Supt. Vicente Mersan Premne and his family from returning to his quarters at PC Hills, Barangay Apas, Cebu City, even if Premne has sought the intervention of the court through the issuance of a cease and desist order. 

According to Garbo, Premne is no longer assigned at the PRO-7 and has “no right” to continue living inside his quarters.

Garbo said PRO-7 is only implementing what should have been done years ago after Premne was transferred outside PRO-7 and assigned to Camp Crame.

He said Premne should give up his “positional quarters” because it is intended solely for PRO-7 staff members and officers.

“We have given him so much time and he already needs to vacate it,” Garbo said.

In his Petition for Injunction and request for Temporary Restraining Order, Premne alleged that on March 15, 2012, his family was no longer allowed to get inside his quarters, not even to get their belongings.

Premne, through lawyer Richard Bauzon, asked the court to issue an injunction and applied for the issuance of a temporary restraining order against Garbo and his deputy for administration, Chief Supt. Samuel Yordan, while looking for a place where he could transfer.

Premne said they are temporarily staying at his mother’s house as his quarter was padlocked and one PNP truck forcibly blocked the entrance to his residence.

Though there was an existing policy that an official who is not anymore assigned at PRO-7 is not entitled to stay the premises, Bauzon said his client should be given enough time to look for another place and to retrieve their belongings.

Premne was given the privilege to stay at one of the houses in PC Hills for his contribution to the community. He started living there with his family in 2004.

In 2009, he was transferred to the PNP Training Service in Camp Crame, Quezon City but his family continued to stay in his quarters.

 However, in 2011, he was transferred to Police Regional Office 12 in General Santos City.

Water and electricity services were cut off to force his family to vacate the quarters.

Premne asked for reconsideration but it was disapproved several times. (FREEMAN)