‘Probe of ex-Cebu City police chief was fair’

The Central Visayas police command said yesterday the investigation into the former police chief of Cebu City was fair and that based on the evidence gathered by the five-man probe team, he had been negligent in supervising his men.

The regional police was reacting to a STAR story, written by the Freeman News Service, quoting Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña as saying that he has lost confidence in Chief Superintendent Avelino Razon, Central Visayas police director, and the entire Philippine National Police (PNP) hierarchy.

Osmeña described as "unfair" the recommendation of the investigating panel, led by Senior Superintendent Alejandro Lapinid, deputy regional police director for administration, for the relief of Senior Superintendent Hiram Benatiro, the former Cebu City police chief.

Benatiro was investigated over the arrest of suspected drug courier Giovanni Gimenez, who reportedly had links with a Hong Kong triad.

In a statement, Senior Superintendent Ronald Dulay Roderos, police-community relations chief of the Central Visayas police, said, "It was unfair for (Mayor Osmeña) to make a sweeping generalization against the entire police hierarchy in the region because majority of the members of the PNP are doing their jobs professionally."

Roderos said the regional police office was consistent in applying the policy of command responsibility, noting that Razon also relieved Lapinid as Cebu City police chief, upon Osmeña’s request, five days after a grenade-throwing incident.

Roderos, meanwhile, said Lapinid was promoted to deputy regional police director for administration because he was the most senior after Senior Superintendent Edgar Burce retired.