Western Visayas police director 'shocked' over dismissal of Bacolod top cop
Published Jan 13, 2019 05:06 pm
By Martin Sadongdong
Chief Supt. John Bulalacao, regional director of Western Visayas Police Regional Office (PRO-6), admitted Sunday that he was “shocked” after he confirmed reports that President Duterte has fired the chief of Bacolod City Police due to his alleged involvement in illegal drug activities.
Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao
(PNP / MANILA BULLETIN) Sr. Supt. Francis Ebreo, chief of Bacolod City Police, was ordered dismissed by President Duterte and made the announcement during a birthday party Saturday night. "Nagulat din ako dahil hindi ko inaasahan na ito palang Bacolod City Police ay mayroong mga reports na siya daw ay allegedly enabling the proliferation of illegal drugs (I was shocked too because I did not expect that the Bacolod City Police has reports the was allegedly enabling the proliferation of illegal drugs)," Bulalacao said. According to information that reached Bulalacao, Ebreo was allegedly "protecting" the commissioned and non-commissioned officers of Bacolod City Police who were also said to be involved in the illegal drug trade. Bulalacao said the information came from Duterte himself. However, the Western Visayas regional police chief said Ebreo showed satisfactory performance as the city police's commander. "Ako ay nanghihinayang dahil magaling siyang officer at naayos niya 'yung disiplina ng pulis dito sa Bacolod City. Marami naman siyang mga naging accomplishments kaya lang dahil sa report na it kaya nagkaroon ng problema (I am full of regret because he is a good officer and he was able to bring back the discipline among the police officers in Bacolod City. He has many accomplishments but the problem is this report )," Bulalacao explained. Aside from Ebreo, four other policemen were sacked by Duterte. They were identified as Supt. Allan Macapagal, Supt. Richie Yatar, Supt. Naruddin Tayuan and Sr. Insp. Victor Paulino. However, Bulalacao said not all of them are still in Bacolod. For one, Tayuan has already been re-assigned to Mindanao when Bulalacao became the regional director of Western Visayas in June 2018. "May mga reports talaga itong mga ito pero dahil nga wala pa kaming hawak na ebidensya ay nakapagtatrabaho pa sa amin (There have been reports about them but since we have no evidence, they continue to work here)," he stated. Ebreo was replaced by Senior Superintendent Henry Binas, the acting chief of PRO-6's Regional Personnel and Human Resource Development Division, as the officer-in-charge of Bacolod City Police. Meanwhile, Ebreo and the three other sacked Bacolod cops were ordered transferred to the PRO-6 Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (RPHAU), Bulalacao said. "We will be conducting an investigation so that we can formally charge them administratively and criminally," he added. As for Tayuan, Bulalacao said he will coordinate with the corresponding regional director who has jurisdiction over him for the possible filing of the charges. "But kung sa evidence kasama siya sa complaint (But as evidence, he will be included in the complaint)," he concluded.
Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao(PNP / MANILA BULLETIN) Sr. Supt. Francis Ebreo, chief of Bacolod City Police, was ordered dismissed by President Duterte and made the announcement during a birthday party Saturday night. "Nagulat din ako dahil hindi ko inaasahan na ito palang Bacolod City Police ay mayroong mga reports na siya daw ay allegedly enabling the proliferation of illegal drugs (I was shocked too because I did not expect that the Bacolod City Police has reports the was allegedly enabling the proliferation of illegal drugs)," Bulalacao said. According to information that reached Bulalacao, Ebreo was allegedly "protecting" the commissioned and non-commissioned officers of Bacolod City Police who were also said to be involved in the illegal drug trade. Bulalacao said the information came from Duterte himself. However, the Western Visayas regional police chief said Ebreo showed satisfactory performance as the city police's commander. "Ako ay nanghihinayang dahil magaling siyang officer at naayos niya 'yung disiplina ng pulis dito sa Bacolod City. Marami naman siyang mga naging accomplishments kaya lang dahil sa report na it kaya nagkaroon ng problema (I am full of regret because he is a good officer and he was able to bring back the discipline among the police officers in Bacolod City. He has many accomplishments but the problem is this report )," Bulalacao explained. Aside from Ebreo, four other policemen were sacked by Duterte. They were identified as Supt. Allan Macapagal, Supt. Richie Yatar, Supt. Naruddin Tayuan and Sr. Insp. Victor Paulino. However, Bulalacao said not all of them are still in Bacolod. For one, Tayuan has already been re-assigned to Mindanao when Bulalacao became the regional director of Western Visayas in June 2018. "May mga reports talaga itong mga ito pero dahil nga wala pa kaming hawak na ebidensya ay nakapagtatrabaho pa sa amin (There have been reports about them but since we have no evidence, they continue to work here)," he stated. Ebreo was replaced by Senior Superintendent Henry Binas, the acting chief of PRO-6's Regional Personnel and Human Resource Development Division, as the officer-in-charge of Bacolod City Police. Meanwhile, Ebreo and the three other sacked Bacolod cops were ordered transferred to the PRO-6 Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (RPHAU), Bulalacao said. "We will be conducting an investigation so that we can formally charge them administratively and criminally," he added. As for Tayuan, Bulalacao said he will coordinate with the corresponding regional director who has jurisdiction over him for the possible filing of the charges. "But kung sa evidence kasama siya sa complaint (But as evidence, he will be included in the complaint)," he concluded.