Buenafe ready to relieve Carbon policemen

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Melvin Ramon Buenafe prepares for the relief of all policemen assigned at Carbon Police Station as ordered by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.

Rama is expected to arrive today from his official trip in Japan and before he left, he has reminded Buenafe of his order. Rama’s order came after a man was shot dead at the back of the Carbon Police Station last March 10. Buenafe, at that time, was on leave because a relative of his died in Naga City.

Buenafe said he cannot rush the relief of the policemen assigned at the station. He explains that he still has to check the list of policemen to be relieved and check other police stations in the city where the replacements will be coming from.

Carbon Police Station currently has 30 personnel aside from the 15 field trainees and five other members from the Regional Public Safety Battalion. It is still not clear, however, whether Buenafe will include in the relief of the additional augmentation from the regional office.

 The director said he still has to consider the administrative and operational effects of the relief which needs ample time of study. But according to him, the transfer of the concerned policemen can be done at one time.

“If it is ready (relief orders), we can have a lump sum transfer,” he said. 

Sr. Insp. Eunil Avergonzado, the current chief of Carbon Police Station, was not available for comment yesterday. Avergonzado replaced Chief Insp. Pablo Cabildo, who only served for two weeks after Rama also ordered for his relief after the March 10 incident.

Cabildo, on the other hand, replaced Chief Insp. Renero Agustin who was also relieved after a Barangay Intelligence Network member was shot dead in broad daylight near the Carbon Police Station. (FREEMAN)