Central Visayas cop chief relieved

CENTRAL VISAYAS, Philippines — Barely warming his seat as Central Visayas police director, Brig. Gen. Valeriano de Leon was relieved from his post and placed on floating status yesterday.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa ordered De Leon’s relief less than four months since his appointment as regional police chief.

Brig. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro, former deputy regional director for operations of the National Capital Region Police Office, replaced De Leon.

A police official who spoke on condition of anonymity said De Leon got the lowest grade in the performance rating for regional directors. The passing rate is 75 percent.

“De Leon passed, but he got the lowest score,” the source said.

Three police officials under De Leon’s command were recently caught playing golf on weekdays.

Gamboa reminded police directors to intensify their operations against all forms of illegal activities if they want to remain in their post.

De Leon was among the three police officials who were replaced and reassigned to Gamboa’s office. The two others are Col. Emma Libunao, former police director of Bulacan, and Col. Gil Francis Tria, deputy director for operations of the Highway Patrol Group.

Gamboa said the relief of the police officials was based on the evaluation of their performance in the campaign against illegal drugs, illegal gambling and police scalawags as well as their failure to adhere to command policies.