Lomibao relieved Superintendent Napoleon Cauyan, TMG-Region 3 chief, and ordered him investigated for being "an impostor officer of the PNP."
Lomibao made the move upon the directive of Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, who had received complaints that Cauyan allegedly falsified documents to enter the PNP.
Chief Superintendent Errol Pan, TMG director, replaced Cauyan, 47, with Superintendent Dionisio Hicban, who was instrumental in the successful retraining of TMG officers in police operational procedures.
The STAR tried to get Cauyan’s side but failed.
Pan quoted Cauyan, 47, as belying the allegations and insisting that the investigation should not proceed because of a court injunction.
Pan said the PNP Directorate for Investigative and Detective Management has found prima facie evidence to warrant the investigation against Cauyan.
"With the investigation, (he) can now defend and vindicate himself," Pan said.
Cauyan was alleged to have superimposed his name over that of a certain Emanrico Tadeo on Special Order GHQ AFP dated June 25, 1985.
The serial number that he used, 0-115842, turned out to belong to 2Lt. Augustus Inocencio.
Documents showed that Cauyan was a former constable second class in the defunct Philippine Constabulary-Integrated National Police in 1982 and was called to active duty for a period of two years, from June 1985 to June 24, 1987.
On June 25, 1989, Cauyan became a captain and was absorbed into the PNP as chief inspector until July 1992.
A year later, the PNP leadership learned about the alleged falsification and directed the then Criminal Investigation Service (CIS), now the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), to investigate it.
Cauyan was dismissed from the police service on April 2, 1993 but he allegedly settled the case and was able to return to the service on Feb. 19, 2001.
Based on his personal data sheet, Cauyan was a decorated officer with a Gold Cross Medal awarded in April 1984; Military Commendation Medal, in July 1985; Military Merit Medal, in June 1987; Military Medal, in April 1988; Medalya ng Papuri, in April 1992; Medalya ng Kagalingan, in August 1992; Medalya ng Paglilingkod, in December 1992; and Medalya ng Papuri, in January 1993.