Police revamp affects two towns, Naga City

CEBU, Philippines - Three police stations in Cebu province will have new chiefs following a minor revamp implemented by the Cebu Provincial Police Office.

The revamp came after Dumanjug Mayor Nelson Garcia requested for a new chief of the town’s police station.

Effective today, Senior Inspector Julius Ompad, former deputy chief of the Naga City Police, will head the Dumanjug police, replacing Sr. Insp. Arvi Arbuis.

Arbuis will be assigned at the Sogod Police Station while Sr. Insp. Rico Emperwa, the chief of the Sogod Police Station, will move to Naga City.

Garcia personally handpicked Ompad to be the new police chief of Dumanjug. Five were considered for the post.

Senior Supt. Noel Gillamac told the media yesterday his “marching order” for Ompad is to “remain non-partisan, do his job, accommodate the request of both warring parties and at the same time it should be legal.”

Gillamac stressed that the movement was implemented “to ease the tensions” brewing in Dumanjug and to recognize the power of the local chief executive to choose a chief of police.

To diffuse tension, checkpoints will be established by the Provincial Public Safety Company as mandated by Police Regional Office 7 director, Chief Supt. Manuel Gaerlan.

Gaerlan has directed Gillamac to conduct “intelligence-driven checkpoints” not only in Dumanjug but also in the neighboring towns.

Gillamac said Garcia and Gica are open to talks for a peaceful and orderly election. Both camps have requested the police to arrest armed groups or drug personalities in the town after their initial talks with Supt. Carmelo Dayon.

“I sent Dayon just to talk to the mayor and the vice-mayor para walay gubot nga mahitabo. According to dayon ni-signify sila nga there will be no violent incident, ipatuman ang kalinaw pinaagi sa pagpanakop og armed group ug drugs,” Gillamac said.

Tensions between Garcia and Gica’s camp started after the convoy of Vice Mayor Efren Gica Jr. was attacked in Barangay Masa, Dumanjug town two weeks ago.

Accusations from both camps immediately followed. Garcia said the incident was staged while Gica said Garcia had something to do with the attack. — (FREEMAN)