Naga and Iriga Police Chiefs Reassigned

NAGA CITY (July 16, 2009) -- TWO POLICE SUPERINTENDENTS have been relieved from their posts in the cities of Naga and Iriga and given new assignments in major urban areas of the Camarines provinces, following a reassignment order from police Sr. Supt. Thomas Belen Semeniano, Chief of the Regional Personnel and Human Resource Development Division, at the PNP regional office in Camp Simeon Ola, Legazpi City.

The police provincial office here revealed on July 15 that Iriga City police chief, Police Supt. Tomasito Torrano Clet, who had remained as Iriga police chief for almost half a decade, has been reassigned to the Naga City Police district office; while Naga Police district officer-in-charge, Police Supt. Reynaldo Pendon Periabras is being assigned to the Cam. Norte Police Office.

In Iriga City, Clet's police deputy, Supt. Ronald T. Briones will assume as officer-in-charge of the city's police station.

However, Iriga City Mayor Madel Gazmen had briskly opposed the relief of Clet and reportedly is filing a protest in Camp Crame.

Clet, who was awarded as an "Outstanding Police Chief in the Philippines" is attributed for his sterling record on the anti-criminality campaign in Iriga City.

Meanwhile, the post for the Naga Police district office chief had allegedly become a "hot seat" for prospective police chiefs after the relief of Police Supt. Edwin Nemenzo.

According to Camp Ola sources, some police superintendents being offered the Naga assignment have been hesitant to take it, allegedly due to the encroachment on the major functions of the City Police district by the Public Safety Office (PSO) created by Naga Mayor Jesse Robredo.

In Daet, Mayor Tito Sarion complained of not being consulted by newly installed Cam. Norte police director, Supt. Emmanuel Talento on the designation of the town's new police chief.

Earlier, Sarion had criticized the leadership of the Daet police force for the unsolved armed robberies in the locality this year. (SONNYSALES)