MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/30 January) — Camp Crame’s Senior Officer Promotion and Placement Board has received five applications for the vacated post of police provincial directorship, P/Supt. Canilo Agua Fuentes, Bukidnon Provincial Police Office deputy for crime operations, said.
But Fuentes, responding to a query during an interview with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas Bukidnon Chapter’s weekly “Interaction” program on Sunday morning, did not name the five applicants.
He said the post of provincial police chief has been declared vacant effective January 25.
He added that the PNP placement board in Camp Crame met on the same day to discuss the replacement for P/SSupt. Nerio Bermudo who has finished his two-year “tour of duty.”
Bermudo was the subject of a Bukidnon provincial board pronouncement in September 2010 calling for his ouster over the alleged failure of his leadership to curb the rising criminality in Bukidnon.
Vice Gov. Jose Ma. R. Zubiri Jr. said one of the things that should be done to address criminality is to replace the provincial police director and one of his deputies.
In September, Zubiri called on Governor Alex Calingasan to sack provincial police chief, Supt. Nerio Bermudo and his deputy for administration, Supt. Jerry Linsagan, citing their alleged failure to stop illegal gambling and other crimes in the province.
Zubiri made the call at the question hour on Sept. 22 when the provincial board tackled the issue on illegal gambling.
“They failed to stop illegal gambling in the province, we will recommend (to the governor) their replacement,” the vice governor said.
The two police officials denied Zubiri’s allegations.
Zubiri during the session, asked Linsagan to do something about the criminality by yearend of 2010 “or else.”
During the provincial board’s January 26 session, he asked why the two officials are still occupying their posts.
“Now it’s already January 26 and they are still there,” Zubiri told the board members.
“The longer they (police officials) stay, it (crime situation) is getting worst,” board member Rogelio Lago said.
Calingasan told MindaNews in a text message Friday that he extended the stay of the two police officials until the end of the month to let them finish their “tour of duty.”
Fuentes told the KBP that Linsagan is preparing for his promotion to the regional police office and is ready to be relieved, too. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)