Negros Occidental PNP head relieved from post; Dares to kill himself if proven he’s linked to drugs, gambling

BACOLOD CTY, Philippines —Senior Superintendent William Señoron, who was relieved from his post as director of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, yesterday said he is willing to “shoot himself in the head” in front of the (police) regional office, if “real investigations and validation” could proved he is involved in the illegal drug trade and gambling.

Chief Supt. Renato Gumban, director of the Police Regional Office-18 (Negros Island Region), on Monday ordered the relief of Señoron and five other police officers linked by self-proclaimed drug group paymaster Ricky Serenio, who is now detained, pending investigations of the allegations hurled against the top provincial police official.

Señoron clarified that he was not questioning the wisdom of Gumban in ousting him from his post, but only on the manner of doing it. He claimed that no explanation was given for his relief before the order was served against him. “I am not hiding anything. I welcome the investigation,” he declared.

Serenio, in his supplemental affidavit, alleged that Señoron received P1.2 million monthly from the Berya Drug Group, of which he claimed to have been working as its paymaster. In his first affidavit, Serenio also alleged that Señoron got drug protection money of P200,000.

Señoron, who has been in the police service for 30 years — starting as a patrolman and rising to the rank of senior superintendent — clarified that he is not fighting for his career, which he has already proven to the PNP, but for his honor.

He contended that the two affidavits of Serenio, a felon who used to be placed under the protective custody of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency consultant Magdaleno Peña and two others, were used as bases to relieve him from his position.

It was in the second affidavit of Serenio that Gumban ordered the relief of Señoron. “It is clear to me now that someone with vicious interest is mounting pressure so much on the regional head of the PNP, and unfortunately someone higher than me, also give in to the pressure,” Señoron claimed.

Gumban denied insinuations that he was pressured by Moises Padilla Mayor Magdaleno Peña,who is a PDEA consultant, to relieve Señoron. After Serenio’s arrest, the court put him in custody of Peña, his son Pulupandan Mayor Miguel Peña and the town police chief.

“Peña has nothing to do with the decision to relieve Señoron,” Gumban clarified, stressing that the police official’s name had been on the list even when he was still with the Regional Intelligence Unit-6 in Iloilo.

But Señoron countered: “How come I was assigned to the Directorate of Intelligence as chief of the Philippine Bomb Data Center, where he was promoted to his present rank, if I have derogatory records?”

At this time, Gumban named Senior Superintendent Rolando Miranda as officer-in-charge of the NOCCPO, in addition to the latter’s duties as officer-in-charge of the PRO-18 chief of directorial staff.

More than 40 police officers linked by Serenio had already been relieved from PRO-18 so far, as recommended by Gumban to Camp Crame.

Señoron then called on the personnel of the 1,400-strong NOCPPO not to be demoralized, stressing that “the truth come out later.” But he lamented over the impact of his relief on his image as a police official that he had taken care of for over three decades. “If you will be relieved because of accusations related to drugs, although it still subject for investigations, it’s already like you have already been convicted before the eyes of the public,” he told The Freeman and The Philippine Star.

Señoron, among other police officers, are also facing complaints before the Ombudsman, in connection with the raid and confiscation of 89 firearms from the ancestral house of Peña in Negros Occidental during the 2013 election period. They were accused of planting explosives during the raid. The 89 firearms turned out to be later covered with licenses. (FREEMAN)