Rama suspects politics behind Capa, Carranza relieved

CEBU, Philippines – Two ranking police officials in the region, including acting Cebu City Police Office director Senior Superintendent Conrad Capa, have been relieved from their post effective last week.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama believes that Capa’s relief was politically motivated because of the upcoming elections.

Although he has yet to receive a formal order, Capa said he was already notified that he has been relieved effective March 12. He was designated as executive officer of the Directorate for Integrated police Operations-Visayas, a position that would earn him a star rank.

Aside from being officer-in-charge of CCPO, Capa is also the current deputy regional director for operations of Police Regional Office-7.

Following Capa’s promotion, Senior Superintendent Mariano Batiancila, chief of the Police Community Relations Division of PRO-7, was designated as the new acting CCPO director also in concurrent capacity.

Senior Superintendent Edward Carranza, chief of the regional directorial staff, was also relieved. He will assume as deputy chief of the PNP Special Action Force.

PRO-7 director Chief Superintendent Prudencio Tom Bañas said he was already notified of Carranza’s new assignment.

Politics behind?

Capa’s reassignment did not please Rama who suspected that politics was behind it.

Rama admitted he had been troubled about the new development as it might be a political strategy of his political opponent to win in the coming elections.

“Because what I am worried of, are we preparing for 2016?" he said.

“Please ayaw na lang mo pagtinalaw lagi. Kung gusto mo modaug, tarunga ninyo ang proseso. Dili kay hasta iapil ang estraktura, preparahon unya hasta ang mga incumbent tangtangan og mga liog while they are still incumbent especially kaning mga dili liberal,” he added.

Rama earlier expressed his interest of keeping Capa as CCPO director until the next elections. He, however, clarified that he does not also want to get in the way of Capa’s promotion if indeed he is to be promoted.

He cited the case of former CCPO director Senior Superintendent Noli Romana, who was also relieved allegedly in the guise of being promoted.

“Kabalo kang Romana, pag-abot nako didto sa Camp Crame. Wala lang mo ma-aware, I don’t know kun kato iyang gibutangan didto promotion ba to. He was taken out,” Rama stressed. – /FPL (FREEMAN)