Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor, Sr. denied “politics” was behind the recent revamp in the chiefs of police of towns in the Province of Iloilo.

In his regular press conference yesterday, Defensor maintained that the reshuffling of the 24 chiefs of police of towns in Iloilo was justified and in accordance with the law, contrary to what opposition vice gubernatorial bet Rolex Suplico said.

He said Senior Supt. Gil Lebin, director, Iloilo Police, already justified the reshuffling, adding that never did he intervene with the affairs of the police.

“Masanag man na nga wala pamulitika kay 24 towns ang affected kag nahatag na ni Col. Lebin ang iyang justification kung ngaa gin-rotate o kun gin-reshuffle niya mga police,” he said.

“I have nothing to do (with the reshuffling), I don’t intervene with the administrative concerns of the PNP in Iloilo,” he added.

The governor, however, acknowledged that some mayors might have complained the recent development in the provincial police, noting that some of the affected mayors wanted to hold on to the chiefs of police that are “friendly” to them.

“They know the law, galing gareklamo kay di ayon sa luyag nila bilang pulitiko kag kandidato, ang gusto nila matabo ang luyag nilang matabo, galing kay demalas lang sila kay indi sila ang gapadalagan sang pulis sa Pilipinas,” he said.

Last Wednesday, Suplico, together with opposition Board Members Jett Rojas and Gerry Flores hit the Governor and Lebin for what they claimed as “unlawful” revamp which allegedly bypassed the rights of the mayors, as stated under Republic Act 8551 or the “PNP Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998.”

The three noted that in the Fifth District alone, seven of the 11 towns with mayors who are under UNA got their new chiefs of police.

‘NOT OVERSTAYING’

Meanwhile, Defensor also defended Lebin from allegations of “overstaying” in his post as Iloilo police director.

He said there are always exceptions to the rule, noting this is not the first time a police director remained in office even after his expected term supposedly expired.

“It doesn’t mean ang rule nga kon mag-overstay ka absolute, that you leave immediately, depende na ‘yan sa leadership kag may mga exceptions ina, may mga precedents ina,” he said, explaining there are previous cases when police director stayed in his post due to “cogent reasons.”

He admitted, moreover, that he asked the national headquarter of the Philippine National Police to let Lebin retain his post in the meantime.

“I have asked that in the meantime, for the retention of Col Lebin, kay sigurado gid ako nga kun sia, indi sia mausar sang pulitiko, indi sia ma-impluwensyahan, indi sia mabakal, indi man sia mapahog, kag nahibaluan man ni Col. Lebin, kag nahibaluan man sang kaupdanan ko sa pulitika, pati man sang kasumpong ko, nga halin sa pag-entra ko sa pulitika wala ko ya gausar sang pulis ukon military sa akon pamulitika,” he said.

“I have always asked the PNP and the military to stay neutral, to be very objective, sa ila pagtuman sa ilang katungdanan, ila nga suluguon ang kasuguan,” he concluded.*