Iloilo city pnp chief relieved; PRO-6 confirms Espenido assigned to a post in WV

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — Call it coincidence, but on the same day when President Rodrigo Duterte publicly announced that controversial police official Chief Inspector Jovie Espenido would be assigned to Iloilo, Senior Superintendent Remus Zacharias Canieso was ordered relieved from his post as director of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO).

Police Regional Office-6 (Western Visayas) spokesperson, Supt. Gilbert Gorero confirmed Tuesday evening that Canieso, effective August 28, was out of ICPO and designated—as a form of promotion—chief of the directorial staff of PRO-ARMM, based on PNP General Order 1300 dated August 29.

Gorero yesterday also confirmed that PRO-6 already received the order on Espenido's assignment to Western Visayas. Based on Special Order 8834, dated August 29, Espenido is relieved from PRO-10 and reassigned to PRO-6 effective the same day.

There was no mention of what Espenido’s designation at PRO-6 will be or where he will be assigned specifically. "His designation will follow after his courtesy call to PRO-6," Gorero told The Freeman.

To end speculations, Gorero explained that Espenido could not be designated as city or provincial police director. Under Republic Act 6975 (An Act Establishing the Philippine National Police under a Reorganized Department of the Interior and Local Government, and for Other Purposes), a city or provincial director is a third-level position, which requires and official to hold at least a senior superintendent (police colonel) rank.

If this law is to be based upon, "Espenido could only be designated as chief of police of a town or component city, and not a chartered city just like in the case of Iloilo City," Gorero said. Those who may be recommended for city or provincial police director post will still undergo deliberation by the PNP Senior Officers Placement and Promotion Board, he added.

Gorero said he is not yet aware when Espenido will report to PRO-6. "He will make his courtesy call just like any other police commissioned officer," he said.

While many believed that Canieso’s relief from ICPO has something to do with Espenido's possible assignment to Iloilo City, Canieso believed otherwise, saying that he only received the order late afternoon of Tuesday.

PRO-6 labeled Canieso’s relief from ICPO as a promotion because he will be assigned to ARMM with a higher position than the one in Iloilo City.

However, at 10 p.m. yesterday, PRO-6 received a new message stating that Canieso’s assignment to ARMM was cancelled, and will remain at PRO-6, but still as chief of the directorial staff, replacing Sr. Supt. Nolasco Bathan who was named deputy regional director for operations of PRO-Calabarzon.

Canieso was appointed ICPO director on June 2, 2016. A graduate of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Class 1989, Canieso previously held the top post at the Regional Public Safety Battalion 6 (RPSB).

PRO-6 Director Chief Superintendent Cesar Hawthorne Binag, earlier said he welcomes any officer, including Espenido, who will be assigned to Western Visayas. (FREEMAN)