DUMAGUETE CITY -- Members of the Dumaguete council have expressed disgust over what they considered as a disrespectful act of Senior Superintendent Edwin Portento, acting police provincial director, in relieving Superintendent Jovito Atanacio as Dumaguete City police chief.
They said the relief was effected despite the resolution of the City Council for the extension of Atanacio's stint in Dumaguete because of several activities lined up until December this year and a letter of request submitted to the mayor.
The Dumaguete City Council has recommended the withholding of assistance to the police in the 2018 regular budget of the city until such time that the PNP provincial office shall have convinced them that their decision to replace Atanacio has not been influenced by anybody else.
Councilor Manny Arbon said the unceremonious way of replacing the former chief of police doesn’t speak well of the PNP as an organization.
He said if the PNP considers the local government unit as partner, they should extend mutual respect to the local government.
Arbon, along with Councilors Michael Bandal, Lilani Ramon, and Estanislao Alviola said they felt offended by the way Atanacio was pulled out because they were among those who supported a resolution that commended the former chief of police for a job well done in the city.
He said since budget review is forthcoming, the proposed PHP5-million aid to law enforcement units and not just the PNP would be withheld pending an explanation from the provincial police director.
Arbon noted the relief order was issued when Atanacio was on leave and while the mayor was out of town.
They were surprised on Monday morning that the OIC chief of police, Superintendent Jonathan Pineda, had already reported as a replacement of Atanacio, as if it was planned ahead to take the parties off guard.
Arbon said this is not how partners operate, noting that when the PNP needs logistical support, the City Council is more than willing to look for funds because that is also part of the city’s program on peace and order.
Critics may consider this as a very small issue, but “a lot of ships sink because they don’t mind the small leakage under the hull,” Arbon said.
He added that this kind of relationship needs to be nurtured, and it is not enough to say the police is merely following the policies on the assignments of police officers.
The City Council had approved Atanacio’s retention for a few weeks to effect an orderly transition while Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo also wrote the police command requesting for the same but what happened was they were “hit behind their backs”. (PNA)
