Leonardia: Tan, Paduano visits to Ebreo made things uncomfortable

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Following the relief order issued by Police Regional Office-6 director, Police Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao, against Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) director, Police Senior Superintendent Francisco Ebreo, and four other officers after President Rodrigo Duterte alleged the five had links to illegal drugs, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia said he has been seeking a relief order for the former BCPO chief.

During a press conference yesterday, the mayor refused to offer an opinion on Ebreo but said he and Bacolod City lone district Rep. Greg Gasataya were “no longer comfortable” with the former BCPO chief after learning Bacolod City Councilor Ricardo Tan and Abang Lingkod partylist Rep. Stephen Paduano had been paying visits to Ebreo.

“We were becoming puzzled as to why [Ebreo] would not report it to us,” Leonardia explained. “We have been repeatedly asking for [his relief order] since early May of last year.”

The mayor also discussed issues with Ebreo reducing the number of personnel, which he claims resulted in an increase in the number of illegal structures and illegal vendors in the city.

Police Senior Superintendent Henry Biñas has since been appointed as Ebreo’s replacement and will serve as officer-in-charge.

Last August, Ebreo said he was expecting to be relieved from duty following several incidents that occurred under his watch. At the time, Bulalacao confirmed there was no relief order and that he was currently satisfied with his performance as city police chief./DGB, WDJ