CEBU CITY — Several high-ranking police officers were relieved in the aftermath of the discovery of a Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) hub inside a hotel in Barangay Agus, Lapu-Lapu City.
The latest to be relieved was Col. Ali Baron, who was axed from his post just five months after he was named as the chief of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LLCPO).
Lt. Col. Conrado Manatad will serve as LLCPO officer-in-charge following the relief of Baron, said Police Lt. Col. Christian Torres, information officer of LLCPO.
Also relieved from their posts were Col. Marlon Santos, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-Central Visayas, and Col. Gervacio Balmaceda, chief of the Regional Intelligence Division of the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas (PRO-7).
The other day, two other police officers were also relieved -- Major Dindo Alaras, head of the LLCPO Intelligence Unit and Station 4 chief Major Judith Besas.
The order to relieve them came from the national headquarters of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said Lt. Col. Gerard Ace Pelare, spokesperson of PRO-7 chief Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin.
They were relieved while an investigation to determine if they could be held liable for the clandestine operation of the POGO hub.
“That was the reason why there were (relief) orders but the orders came from the national headquarters. We will always abide by the wisdom of our leaders in the PNP,” Pelare said.
The raid was conducted on August 31 by the National Bureau of Investigation, Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, and the Bureau of Immigration.
A group of foreigners that included Chinese, Indonesians, and Burmese were apprehended during the raid.