DUMAGUETE CITY -- The acting provincial police director of Negros Oriental said on Wednesday that the changing of the guards at the Dumaguete Police Station was forthcoming because the previous police chief was already “overstaying.”
Sr. Supt. Edwin Portento said the relief of Supt. Jovito Atanacio as Dumaguete police chief and the assumption of his successor, Supt. Jonathan Pineda, which took effect Monday, was based on guidelines in accordance with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Police Commission (Napolcom).
Atanacio has stayed more than two years in the Dumaguete post, and in fact, was already extended for about three months following a request from the city mayor, Portento said.
There is a need for Atanacio to be replaced already as other police officials in the province are waiting in line to be re-assigned to their new posts, Portento explained. The rotation of police officers would not move smoothly if Atanacio continued to stay in Dumaguete, he said.
They had been put on hold for awhile now, he said, even though some changes had already been made since he assumed as acting provincial police director last September 1.
Furthermore, the PNP Regional Office 7 (PRO-7) director, Chief Supt. Jose Mario Espino, told him during a recent conference to make changes within the Negros Oriental PNP organization as some police chiefs were under-ranked, meaning, they were not suitable for their assignments, said Portento.
A police chief is supposed to hold the rank of superintendent, but some are still senior inspectors.
Also, other areas in Negros Oriental, like Vallehermoso, La Libertad, Jimalalud, Ayungon, Mabinay, Bayawan City, Bais City and San Jose have new police chiefs as well, said Portento.
Portento’s explanation came after he drew flak from Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo and some city officials who said the local chief executive was not properly informed that a new police chief would take over on Monday, November 6.
Mayor Remollo had earlier requested for the extension of Atanacio’s assignment in Dumaguete until after all the major activities and events lined up mostly during the last quarter of the year have been held.
According to Portento, he wrote Mayor Remollo in September regarding the prolonged stay of Atanacio, who was named Dumaguete police chief in July 2015.
Portento said he submitted the names of three police officers to the mayor for him to choose his next police chief but the mayor had asked for Supt. Atanacio’s extension, which Portento granted “as a matter of respect.”
But he clarified that he did not make any commitment for the former police chief to stay on in Dumaguete until the end of the year.
Besides, the tenure of the new OIC police chief, Supt. Jonathan Pineda, is only good for 30 days and the mayor still has the option to make his choice from the list provided him, Portento said.
He issued an apology to the mayor and other city officials for the inconvenience caused by the relief of Atanacio but he assured that the new police chief is as equally capable and qualified to lead the Dumaguete police force.
Atanacio has been transferred to the Negros Oriental PNP Provincial Office. (PNA)
