PRO-7 relieves CCPO director

CEBU, Philippines —  After just about three months in the post, Col. Engelbert Soriano was relieved as director of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) but the Police Regional Office (PRO) - 7 clarified his removal is but part of a rotation.

“It’s a matter of changing the guards lang, wala namang particular na issue… it’s part of the organization, the rotation,” PRO-7 chief Albert Ignatius Ferro told reporters yesterday.

Ferro said Soriano will handle an office at PRO-7. The head of that office is reportedly set for retirement and will be on non-duty status.

Col. Hector Grijaldo, former Regional Battalion Commander in PRO-7, will take over the directorship at CCPO.

Ferro said he has instructed Grijaldo to continue intensified monitoring and the implementation of curfew in line with the community quarantine implemented in Cebu City.

While special attention is needed for efforts against COVID-19, Ferro also directed Grijaldo to not forget the other areas of police work, especially anti-criminality efforts.

“And, of course, they should not be complacent in the anti-criminality efforts because there’s a lot of accomplishment within the Cebu City Police Force. They have good seizures on illegal drugs, illegal gambling, and seizure of loose firearms, so he should do his best,” Ferro said.

Soriano assumed as CCPO director on December 27, 2019, replacing officer-in-charge Geovanie Maines, the former regional director for operations at PRO-7.

During his stint as CCPO director, Soriano was recognized for CCPO’s accomplishment in the three-day Synchronized Enhancement Managing and Police Operations (SEMPO), which resulted in the seizure of illegal drugs worth at least P70 million.

Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella said he was satisfied with Soriano’s work but will not question his reassignment.

“If that order comes from the Philippine National Police, then we just have to abide by it… it is not the time for us to question because we always presume that there is a presumption of regularity in the reassignment,” Labella said.

Grijaldo has just been promoted to colonel in February. He was recognized for his accomplishments in the eradication of marijuana plantations in Cebu.

Grijaldo is a member of PNP Class 1997 and a classmate the former CCPO director Royima Garma.  JMO (FREEMAN)