The head of the Bacolod City Police Anti-Illegal Special Operations Group was relieved from his post effective yesterday and assigned to Antique Police Provincial Office.

City Police Director Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz said Senior Insp. Joemarie Occeño’s relief order was signed by Police Regional Office-6 Director Chief Supt. Cepriano Querol.

Supt. Santiago Rapiz was assigned to replace Occeño as CAIDSTOG head while Senior Insp. Gever was designated as his deputy.

Speculations circulated that Occeño’s relief might have something to do with the killing of his operative, Police Officer 3 Rolando Malate, but De la Paz did not confirm it.

“The relief of Occeño was recommended by the Regional Police Director … we cannot ask questions as to the reasons but we are expected to implement his relief”, De la Paz said.

Malate was gunned down by one of two men on a motorcycle in front of his daughter while they were in their car at corner Jovita and Hernaez Streets in Bacolod City on November 24.

A month later, the suspect identified as Benjie Jalandoni, 39, of Brgy. Camansi in Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, surrendered to Rapiz.

Further investigation showed that Jalandoni had reportedly worked as a security guard in the property that Occeño bought in Murcia.

Occeño told the DAILY STAR that he was surprised to learn about his relief and felt bad because he could not think of any reason for it.

He said it will be difficult for him if he is transferred to Antique as he has to attend hearings of drug cases he has filed at the Bacolod City Prosecutor’s Office.*APN

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