By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) director, Police Senior Superintendent Francisco Ebreo, rebuffed allegations by Moises Padilla Mayor Magdaleno Peña, who also serves as a Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) consultant, claiming police were going after PDEA assets operating in the city.

“I don’t even know the identities of his assets,” said the BCPO chief. “There is even no coordination given to us.”

Ebreo said BCPO is only active in pursuing individuals participating in illegal and criminal activities.

The BCPO director also responded to other claims by the mayor regarding the transfer of two police officers to Marawi City.

“I have no power to relieve personnel from BCPO and reassign them,” he explained. “That is beyond my authority.”

Ebreo also pointed out, BCPO personnel are typically only relieved if they are involved in illegal activities. He explained, removing them from their post prevents the officers in question from influencing any ongoing investigation into their case.

Earlier, Peña urged Ebreo to stop pursuing PDEA assets operating in the city, indicating he has assets scattered across Bacolod City providing assistance to the agency, with their reports subsequently submitted directly to President Rodrigo Duterte.

The mayor claimed Ebreo is actively chasing down assets and he has no idea why; adding, the BCPO director should also have not transferred the two police officers involved in the shootout that resulted in the death of Bacolod City-based drug lord Ramy Poja./DGB, WDJ