By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Police Regional Office-18 (PRO-18) ordered the relief of Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) Director, Police Senior Superintendent William Señoron, along with six other law enforcement officers, yesterday afternoon.
In an interview with Aksyon Radyo-Bacolod immediately after his relief, he said he has already been convicted through public perception.
“The moment you are relieved because of drugs, people think you are really involved, even if it is still being investigated,” Señoron explained. “It is like you are already convicted.”
“I am not fighting for my career but for my honor,” he added.
Señoron called his relief a “victory” for former Berya drug group member Ricky Serenio, who claimed in an affidavit the NOPPO chief was receiving money from drug groups; and Moises Padilla Mayor Magdaleno Peña.
Peña previously filed a case against police officers, including Señoron, who raided his home in Pulupandan in 2013, when he was the town mayor.
“The truth shall prevail, but what is the use if you are already humiliated? Peña won by relieving me,” the NOPPO director said.
Despite questioning the legal basis of the order, saying he “doubts the wisdom of the order,” Señoron said he will obey.
Meanwhile, the other officers named in Serenio’s supplemental affidavit include Police Superintendent Edel Jose Manzano of the Cadiz City Police Office; Police Superintendent Placido Gentoleo of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO); former Himamaylan City Police commander, Police Superintendent Antonietto Cañete; Police Chief Inspector Edison Garcia; Police Chief Inspector Rocky Desear; and Police Officer 1 (PO1) Eric Alcosaba.
PRO-18 spokesperson, Police Senior Inspector Armilyn Vargas, said the cops were removed from their posts.
Under their new assignments, Señoron, Manzano, Gentoleo, Cañete, and Garcia will be reassigned under the Regional Personnel Holding and Accounting Unit (RPHAU), while Alcosaba was reassigned under the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB).
Both Señoron and Garcia have previously expressed their plans to file criminal charges against Serenio over his allegations.
PRO-18 director Police Chief Superintendent Renato Gumban has since appointed Police Senior Superintendent Rolando Miranda as acting NOPPO director.
As of press time, Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. could not be reached for comment./WDJ