Lawmaker denies hand on Investigation bureau head's transfer

NEGROS Occidental (6th District) Representative Mercedes Alvarez denied on Sunday having a hand in the impending transfer of NBI Bacolod head lawyer Ferdinand Lavin.

The relief and transfer of officials and heads of NBI, military, Comelec and other officials are happening all over the country, she said.

"I belong to the legislative branch of the government. I have no authority to reshuffle a government agency or its heads for that matter," she added.

Whether he is transferred or retained in Bacolod, "I don't think what he can still do to influence the case because it is already with the DOJ."

The case on the killing of Kabankalan Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Henry Arles is still with the Department of Justice (DOJ).

"We are curious as well to its resolution. This is a calvary on our family. This is very hurtful to my family. But we don't want it to affect us because we have a mandate to perform. We want this to end immediately," she said.

She believes the truth will come out that their family has nothing to do with killing of Judge Arles.

The Arles family alleged that the lawmaker had a hand in the impending transfer of Lavin.

Meanwhile, Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. said that he has no knowledge yet who will be assigned here to replace Lavin as NBI Bacolod head.

He said that he is aware that the NBI, like the PNP and the military officials and personnel, are not permanently assigned in certain areas and that they are subject to reshuffling.