The attempt to unceremoniously relieve Colonel Julius Cesar Gornez of his post as Bohol’s top cop has been thwarted amid allegations that the move was politically motivated.
Gornez was supposedly relieved of his post effective April 30, 2019 based on an order issued by Camp Crame, but Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 deputy director for administration Col. Dennis Agustin told the Chronicle on Saturday that the directive will no longer be implemented.
Unconfirmed reports earlier surfaced indicating that backdoor negotiations were made to execute the replacement of Gornez in an attempt to control the leadership of the local police force during the May 13 polls.
Gornez who has been the director of the Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) for less than four months however kept mum on the issue.
Agustin also declined to elaborate on the planned transfer of Gornez and its failed implementation.
Meanwhile, Gornez’ supposed transfer aroused the suspicion of Provincial Administrator Alfonso Damalerio II.
Damalerio questioned the timing of the order to relieve Gornez which was issued less than two weeks before the elections.
“Bag-o pa mi-assume si Gornez, gipulihan si [Col. Angeles] Geñorga. Wa pay one year si Geñorga, mipuli si Gornez. Karon, pulihan napud siya. Ang timing pa pud sa pagpuli, nganong karon siya pulihan na 10 nalang ka adlaw ang pinili-ay,” said Damalerio during the Capitol’s weekly press briefing on Friday.
“Sa basketball pa, diri na’s fourth quarter magpuli ka’g referee o magpuli ka’g table officials,” he added.
On Thursday, Lieutenant Col. Maria Aurora Rayos, spokesperson of the Police Regional Office 7, confirmed the directive which ordered Gornez’ relief.
The order which was signed by Major General Lyndon Cubos, director of the PNP Directorate for Personnel and Records Management indicated that Gornez was to be replaced by Colonel Emma Macapagal Libunao at an acting capacity.
She would have been the BPPO’s first female director had the order not been cancelled.
Libunao is currently the chief of Camp Crame’s Family, Juvenile, Gender and Development Division (FJGADD).
Gornez took over the BPPO’s helm in mid-January from Colonel Angeles Geñorga, Jr.
Geñorga’s replacement also came abruptly as he was unable to complete his regular two-year term as BPPO chief.