Superintendent Rhodel Sermonia, a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) class of 1989, was caught by surprise after he was informed of his relief, which was ordered by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr.
The order was relayed by the PNP headquarters through Director Jose Lalisan, head of the PNP Directorate for Personnel and Management, to Cavite Provincial police chief Senior Superintendent Roberto Rosales.
"I don’t see any reason why I should be relieved. Is this what I get for working so hard, especially now that we won the Best Police Station award nationwide for 2004?" Sermonia asked.
Sermonia was also the recipient of the prestigious PMA Cavalier’s Award during the PMA Annual Alumni Homecoming in Baguio City last February.
In an interview with The STAR, Sermonia said he suspected that the intense rivalry between local politicians in the province may be the reason for his relief. He belied reports that it may have been due to pressures related to a national presidential candidate.
"(I think, it is about) local politics...I am told that I should finish my schooling," Sermonia said, referring to the Officers’ Senior Officers Excecutive Course (OSEC), which is a primary academic requirement for senior officers.
Local politics in Cavite reportedly became more intense after reelectionist Cavite Gov. Ayong Maliksi threw his support behind Silang Mayor Ruben Madlangsacay and former Cavite City mayor Timoteo Encarnacion.
The endorsement came after Maliksi junked his support for congressional bets Crispin "Boying" Remulla and Jun Abaya. The Remullas have been vocal for supporting presidential bet and Sen. Panfilo Lacson while Maliksi has expressed support for movie actor Fernando Poe Jr.
Sermonia’s relief came after one of the principal suspects in last year’s fatal stabbing of PO1 Maximo Javier of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and a civilian asset only known as Abing was gunned down.
Police said Luis Paredes, 43, was on board his motorcycle when two men shot him at the boundary of Barangays Datu Ismael and San Esteban at around 6:30 a.m. last Saturday.