Philippine National Police OIC Lieutenant General Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar ordered the relief of the Chief of Police of Calbayog City Police Station, Police Lieutenant Colonel Neil Montaño effective today, March 14, 2021.
The relief order is in connection with the incident in March 8 in Calbayog City which resulted in the death of Mayor Ronaldo Aquino and five (5) other people, including three (3) PNP personnel and at the same time, the irresponsible conduct of his intelligence officer in relation to the letter request to the local court.
These two unfortunate incidents are currently under investigation and PLtCol Montaño was ordered relieved for command responsibility.
PLtCol Montaño will be replaced by PLtCol Rodolfo C Albotra as the new Chief of Police of the Calbayog CPS while Police Major Ruel Burlat, on the other hand, was designated as the new chief of intelligence unit, to replace PLt Fernando Calabria Jr. who was also relieved from his post effective March 12.
Aside from PLtCol Montaño and PLt Calabria, nine (9) other Police Non-Commissioned Officers (PNCOs) of the Calbayog CPS were also relieved and were reassigned to Samar Provincial Police Office to undergo refresher seminar.
The relief of these officers and the designation of their replacements were also based on the recommendation of the Regional Director, Police Regional Office 8, Police Brigadier General Ronaldo De Jesus.
“This reorganization is intended not only to improve the investigation and intelligence capacity of the Calabayog City Police Station in the light of the two incidents that happened but also to infuse new ideas and strategies on peace and order with the deployment of new police officers in the area,” said Eleazar.
This also includes the designation of PMaj Marino Estoño as the new company commander of the Calbayog City-based 1st Samar Provincial Mobile Forces Company, which was also recommended by PBGen De Jesus.
“PMaj Estoño has just finished his Commando Course and we expect that his deployment in Calbayog City will calm the tension and address security apprehensions of the local residents as a result of the incident involving Mayor Aquino,” the PNP OIC added.
“We are also continuously conducting the needs assessment for the Calbayog CPS to improve its investigation, intelligence and operational capabilities through PBGen De Jesus and his regional command group,” he said.
PNP officers concerned are also ordered to refrain from making any comment on the case of Mayor Aquino, and wait instead for the final result of the investigation.
“We appeal to all the parties concerned to do the same,” said Eleazar.