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ILOILO CITY — Just days before the May 12 polls, key police officers were reassigned to other offices in Iloilo province but were reinstated to their original posts a day later.
On May 7, a memorandum from the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) directed the reassignment of five officers to different posts in Iloilo province.
However, the directive was recalled the following day, with the officers ordered to return to their original assignments.
PRO-6 director BGen. Jack Wanky confirmed the recall, stating that Maj. Kenn Albert Lepsia, Maj. Harold Rendora, Capt. Cedrick Cruz, Capt. Johnny Oro, and Lt. Patrick John Alabado have been reinstated to their former positions.
Lepsia, who had been reassigned from the Dumangas Municipal Police Station to the Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO) headquarters, returned to his post as station chief.
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Cruz, who was transferred from Barotac Nuevo to the IPPO headquarters, has likewise resumed his role as station commander.
Rendora, initially designated to replace Lepsia, has gone back to his post as deputy chief of the IPPO Provincial Intelligence Unit.
Oro, who was briefly reassigned to Carles Municipal Police Station, has resumed his previous role as deputy chief.
Meanwhile, Alabado, who was also temporarily assigned to Carles, is back as the commander of the 1st IPPO Mobile Force Company.
While no specific reason for the abrupt reversal was given, reports indicate that the recall was based on a communication from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Region 6.
The Regional Personnel and Records Management Division referenced the Comelec's letter in directing IPPO director Col. Bayani Razalan to reinstate the five personnel.
Earlier, PRO-6 justified the initial relief by citing the officers' familiarity with certain political figures in their areas of assignment, which is seen as potentially compromising during the election period.
It can be noted that Razalan was also relieved from his post as director of the IPPO based on instructions from the Philippine National Police leadership in Camp Crame.
The relief order, however, has not taken effect yet as clearance from the Comelec is still pending.
