RELIEVED. Senior Superintendent Edgar Alan Okubo (right), meeting with Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino in this photo, was relieved as Cebu Provincial Police Office director effective Tuesday (May 8, 2018). (Photo courtesy of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas)
CEBU CITY -- Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) Director Senior Supt. Edgar Alan Okubo was relieved from his post effective May 8 by Camp Crame.
The relief order came at the height of preparations for the synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections next week.
Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO-7) Director Chief Supt. Robert Quenery said in a press conference on Wednesday he does not have specific knowledge why Okubo was relieved, except that it was part of a nationwide reshuffling of Philippine National Police (PNP) officers.
“I don’t know the specific reason for his relief,” Quenery said. “It’s not only in Central Visayas. It’s a nationwide issue. This has been the decision of the PNP Oversight Committee, which deliberates and assesses the performances of the officers.”
Okubo, who has been reassigned to head the Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit of PRO-7, was replaced by Senior Supt. Manuel Abrugena, who was previously assigned in Batangas.
Senior Supt. Edwin Portento was also relieved as Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office director together with Okubo. Replacing Portento is Senior Supt. Raul Tacaca.
Quenery said both Okubo and Portento are good officers, but it is the Oversight Committee, which decides who will be reshuffled.
“They (Okubo and Portento) are both okay, but we have different standards. Maybe, the standards of the Oversight Committee are different from mine,” Quenery said in Filipino.
The PRO-7 chief said the reassignment of the provincial directors will not affect their security preparations for the May 14 elections as the security plan is already in place.
“Those who will replace them will just have to implement it (security plan),” said Quenery, who has yet to meet with the two new provincial directors.
“It’s my first time to meet them, actually. I’ve never worked with them in the past, but I’m excited to meet them,” Quenery said.
Quenery said his first directive to Abrugena and Tacaca is to study, analyze, and assess the prevailing situation of their respective units.
“They (Abrugena and Tacaca) have only maybe three days to really get a grasp of the situation of their respective units. Just like me. When I took over (as PRO-7 chief), the following day it was Sinulog. It’s just like that. So, at least they have three days to internalize and make necessary adjustments if there are any,” Quenery said. (PNA)
