THE recent relief of the Bukidnon Police Provincial Director was due to a command policy and the regional director’s prerogative, a Camp Alagar officer clarified on Monday.
In an interview yesterday, Police Regional Office-10 (PRO-10) spokesperson Major Joanne Navarro said she was misquoted by several news outlets, including this paper’s report: ‘Alagar top cop relieves Bukidnon director,’ that came out on April 18.
Navarro clarified that the removal of Bukidnon Provincial Director Colonel Reynante Reyes was not due to the alleged several complaints sent by a concerned citizen to Malacañan’s Hotline 8888.
“The (relief) of Col. Reyes was the regional director’s prerogative,” said Navarro.
Earlier, PRO-10 Director Brigadier Gen. Lawrence B. Coop ordered the relief of Reyes as the provincial director of Bukidnon effective April 15, 2023.
Navarro explained that Coop is the one who exercises the command, control, direction, coordination, and supervision of all activities on PNP operations in Northern Mindanao, such as deployment and employment of personnel.
Navarro also added that even in one of her interviews over Magnum Radio, she was asked by anchorman Jun Albino if the relief of Col. Reyes was related to the complaint made against the latter (Reyes) sent to Malacañan.
She replied that it was not, because the complaint was still undergoing investigation which took some time to finish owing to the number of police personnel implicated in the said complaint sent to Hotline 8888.
This paper tried to contact Col. Reyes for his reaction but the text messages to his number were not returned.
Navarro also clarified that she did not mention to any reporter in Cagayan de Oro that Col. Reyes, was the certain police officer who went abroad allegedly without filing a vacation leave.
“Our police investigators (are) also looking deeply into that allegation that was reportedly sent to hotline 8888,” said Navarro.
The hotline 8888 is the official Citizens’ Complaint Hotline number of the government that serves as the receiving platform for complaints, grievances, and requests for assistance from the general public.
“I did not say to any media personality (or) even talked to them that Col. Reyes was relieved from his position as he faces an investigation on alleged irregularities,” she said.
Navarro also denied the report that she mentioned to the media that Col. Reyes is facing an investigation due to the complaint against him sent via text messages to Malacañan’s Hotline 8888.
She maintained that the removal of Reyes was due to PRO-10’s General Order which stated the terms of designation of Reyes as provincial director of Bukidnon.
According to Navarro, the General Order, dated April 14, 2023, was signed by the Chief of Regional Staff Col. Christopher Acop, and the Chief of the Regional Personnel and Records Management Division Col. Dominador Estrada.
