BACOLOD City – Mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia said there was attempt from his part to dismiss Senior Superintendent Francisco Ebreo as city police director last year.
Leonardia told reporters this yesterday at the Bacolod City Government Center, a day after Ebreo’s relief order from Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) director Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao took effect.
“We have done that at one point. I was with Congressman Greg Gasataya,” said Leonardia.
The mayor added that he did no longer felt “complete confidence” with Ebreo after receiving reports that his political enemies – Councilor Ricardo Tan and Abang Lingkod party-list representative Stephen Paduano – were paying the former Bacolod police director visits in 2018.
“Natingala kami nga wala niya (Ebreo) na-report sa amon. We felt that kabudlay mag–upod sa police officer nga wala ka complete confidence,” Leonardia stressed.
He added: “So we asked for it (Ebreo’s relief) as early as May last year. I had been repeating that but wala nila ginhalin.”
Leonardia also said Ebreo had been reducing the number of city antidrug personnel to favor “illegal vendors” and their “working relationship.”
Panay News was still trying to reach Ebreo for comment as of press time.
President Rodrigo Duterte announced the dismissal of Ebreo in a private event at L’Fisher Hotel in Bacolod on Saturday, claiming that that the latter was involved in the illegal drug trade as protector.
The relief order came Sunday, with Senior Superintendent Henry Biñas taking over Bacolod City’s top cop post.
Despite the “problems,” Leonardia said he made sure that there were “no disruptions” in his professional relationship with Ebreo.
He added that the city government had provided the Bacolod City Police Office with the assistance it needs, citing the P22-million budget allocated for the city police force.
Ebreo was now assigned at PRO-6’s Regional Police Holding and Accounting Unit./PN
