RELIEF. Police Regional Office (PRO-7) Director, Brigadier General Valeriano De Leon answers questions from reporters on the sidelines of the change of command ceremony for the Central Command, at Camp Lapulapu, Cebu City on Thursday (Oct. 31, 2019). De Leon said he ordered the relief of Cebu City Police Office Director Col. Gemma Vinluan following the order of President Rodrigo Duterte to transfer the investigation on the killing of Clarin, Misamis Occidental Mayor David Navarro to the National Bureau of Investigation. (PNA photo by John Rey Saavedra)
CEBU CITY – The top police official in Central Visayas on Thursday said that Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) chief, Col. Gemma Vinluan, was relieved of her post following the order of President Rodrigo Duterte to transfer the murder case of Clarin, Misamis Occidental Mayor David Navarro to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
Brigadier General Valeriano De Leon, director of the Police Regional Office (PRO-7), told the media here on the sidelines of the change of command ceremony at the Central Command headquarters, that Vinluan is now placed at the PRO-7’s Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Office (RPHAO). De Leon said Colonel Giovani Maines will replace Vinluan.
When asked if Vinluan’s relief will affect the security plans in time for Undas, De Leon said there would be no vacuum as security measures are already in place prior to the issuance of the order. The order was effective on Wednesday (Oct. 30, 2019).
In a statement sent to media, De Leon clarified that Vinluan was considered “administratively relieved” to pave the way for the NBI investigation. The NBI-7 officials headed by assistant regional director, lawyer Dominador Cimafranca, conducted a case conference on the killing of Navarro while onboard a patrol car en route to the Cebu City Prosecutor’s Office for an inquest proceeding.
“The President's instruction to turn over the investigation to the NBI is a welcome development. It will provide a perception of impartial investigation sparing us of suspicion of possible whitewash,” de Leon said.
The order to relieve Vinluan, he said, was intended to make her available during the course of the investigation.
De Leon picked Vinluan as head of the “Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Navarro” prior to Duterte’s order to transfer the case to the NBI, because of possible involvement of cops in the incident on Oct. 25 at M. Velez St., here.
“We abided by the order of President Duterte to immediately turn over this to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI),” de Leon earlier said.
On Tuesday (Oct. 29), the task group turned over the case documents to the NBI.
De Leon said he will also turn over to the NBI the result of his queries from the Police Regional Office-10.
Navarro was attacked by some 10 suspects while onboard the patrol car of the CCPO Station 2 (Abellana Police Station), even though two police officers were with him inside the vehicle.
The police convoy of the Station 2 was traveling to the Prosecutor’s Office for the inquest of Navarro on charges of physical injury and act of lasciviousness filed by two massage therapists in Cebu.
Vinluan, for her part, said she will abide by the order while the investigation is ongoing.
“Lapses are possible but not intentional,” Vinluan said in a statement sent to media. (PNA)
