Oppus reassigned to Lapu-Lapu police

A month after his relief from the Lapu-Lapu police station, Supt. Louie Oppus is now back at his post after a simple turnover ceremony yesterday morning at the Cebu Provincial Police Office.

Oppus, who has been chief of the Lapu-Lapu police station for more than three years now, was relieved from his post before the election period after Lapu-Lapu Vice Mayor Norma Patalinjug accused him of bias for Mayor Arturo Radaza whose reelection bid she challenged.

He was then replaced by Supt. Noel Gillamac, the former deputy director of the Regional Mobile Group-7.

Oppus yesterday dismissed insinuation that politics was behind his return to his post, but “good performance and commitment to the service”.

Comelec Commissioner Resureccion Borra granted the request of Oppus letting him return as chief of Lapu-Lapu City.  But observers at the Lapu-Lapu City Hall believe that Oppus’ transfer was politically motivated.

“I don’t really, really know but I think that’s far from reality,” he said, adding that Oppus requested for reassignment even before Patalinjug had asked for his relief.

Oppus made a courtesy visit to the office of Patalinjug at the Lapu-Lapu City Hall yesterday afternoon.

“If she will berate me then I will accept it.  What I did was simply following a lawful order from the higher command and designated government agency,” Oppus explained.

He also said he will assess all police stations in the city to determine the efficiency of policemen there after the memorandum earlier issued by Gillamac regarding the work attitude of some policemen in the city. 

Cebu provincial police chief Carmelo Valmoria also said yesterday that following the reinstatement of Oppus, the other police chiefs who have been relieved during the election period will also be reinstated to their old posts.

Among those affected in the revamp which was implemented last April were the police chiefs of Danao City and the towns of Sibonga, Balamban, Naga, San Remigio, Bogo, Ginatilan, Alegria and Poro.

However, Valmoria said that even if this police chiefs will be reinstated after the end of the election period this coming June 13, CPPO will be presenting five recommendees starting July 1 to the newly re-elected mayors for them to have a choice of their new chief of police.

The names of the police chiefs relieved during the election period and are to be reinstated will still be included in the list of recommendees.

But the policemen of Madridejos and the Sta. Fe towns who traded places during the election period will remain where they are until the CPPO can submit new names or recommendees to then elected mayors so they can choose their new police chiefs.  — Flor Z. Perolina and Gerome M. Dalipe/BRP