Friday, August 31, 2007 Cops on mass action for Buenafe's retention By VICTOR L. CAMION
MORE than sixty police officers headed by police chiefs in Negros Oriental have stage a mass action demanding for the retention of incumbent Provincial Police Director Melvin Buenafe.
"This mass action of the officers and men of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office stemmed out of the controversy regarding the recent significant accomplishment of the inter-agency task force Manluminsag headed by our very own Provincial Director Melvin Ramon Garrido Buenafe that caused the early solution of the multiple murder and multiple frustrated murder cases arising from the Barangay Manluminsag ambush which claimed the seven lives and wounding five others," read in a two-page manifesto of support addressed to the Central Visayas Police Regional Director.
The manifesto of support dated August 25, 2007, signed by more than sixty police officers headed by the chiefs of police in the province, opposed the transfer of Buenafe.
In a press conference held at the office of the 705th Provincial Mobile Group, police officials headed by Superintendent Julius Muñez clarified that they are not against the transfer of the provincial director for any good reason.
But they stressed that Buenafe will be relieved from his position after he was accused of being biased in his report in the La Libertad ambush slay.
"Officers and men will come in and out," said Muñez adding, "But not through injustice."
He believed that politics is behind the order.
Buenafe, in a separate interview, confirmed that he received a verbal order from the higher official but he refused to name names.
"So far, wala pa tayong natatanggap na official notice," but he already considered the order as official because of the capacity of the official from the region who informed him through phone.
Buenafe is ordered to file a leave of absence while waiting the official notice but Governor Emilio Macias II asked him to stay first due to a series of activities in connection with the celebration of the 106th Founder's day of Silliman University.
He also confirmed that he was accused of being biased in the investigation, which resulted the order of his relief.
Buenafe explained his report was based on the investigation conducted by the inter-agency Manluminsag Task Force which is composed of the Philippine Army, Police's Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, National Bureau of Investigation and Provincial Police Office.
He believed that former 1st district Rep. Jacinto Paras is behind the transfer order against him.
Buenafe, however, admitted the information did not mention anybody who is behind his relief.
Paras was named as mastermind in the La Libertad ambush-slay.
Paras, on the other hand, denied accusations that he is behind the relief order of Buenafe.
