ILOILO City – “Another adjustment.”
This was how Gov. Rhodora Cadiao of Antique described the sudden relief of Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan as Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) director.
The abrupt order surprised Cadiao, who helms the Regional Development Council (RDC) in Western Visayas.
“Na-shock ako. Siempre, maninibago naman ang pakikihalubilo [natin]. Hindi mo alam kon paano naman ang next move mo,” Cadiao told Panay News yesterday.
On Monday, Lieutenant Colonel Joem Malong, PRO-6 spokesperson, confirmed Pamuspusan’s relief effective today, Dec. 1 and eventual transfer to Camp Crame as deputy director for plans.
This was contained in General Order No. NHQ-GO-DES-2020-2869 issued by Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Debold Sinas.
Sinas’ order also installed a new PRO-6 chief – Police Brigadier General Rolando Miranda, former chief of the directorial staff of the defunct Negros Island Region Police Office.
Pamuspusan has been the police chief of Western Visayas, which is comprised of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental provinces, as well as the highly urbanized cities of Iloilo and Bacolod, for one year and six months.
This development was untimely and unprecedented, according to Cadiao.
While respecting the PNP’s decision, the governor said, “Sa akin, as chairman ng RDC to re-brief the new one at saka kilalanin mo – medyo mahirap, especially this time when we are having a crisis na hindi pa na so-solved.”
Local chief executives could have been informed much earlier about Pamuspusan’s relief, Cadiao said, adding that, “mabigat ang position niya sa Region 6 eh.”
Meanwhile, according to Malong, a turnover of command was scheduled on Dec. 2, 3 p.m. at Camp Delgado in Fort San Pedro here. It will be led by Police Lieutenant General Cesar Hawthorne Binag, deputy chief for operations of the PNP and a former PRO-6 director.
On the other hand, Miranda in a radio interview said curbing illegal drugs, graft and corruption are his top priories.
A member of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1990, Miranda had served as Manila Police District director and was the officer-in-charge of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, three years ago.
In the latest round of reshuffling within the PNP, 23 police officials were given new positions.
Sinas said the reshuffling was recommended by the Senior Officers’ Placement and Promotion Board due to vacancies caused by seven retiring senior officials who applied for non-duty status ahead of their retirement date.
PNP personnel on non-duty status are still members of the organization but will no longer work as they process their documents ahead of their retirement./PN
