Pinuela sacked from Iloilo police’s key posts

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Police Major Jonathan Pinuela has been removed from three sensitive posts of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO).

Police Colonel Paul Kenneth Lucas made the decision two days after he assumed the IPPO helm as officer-in-charge.

Pinuela used to head three important branches of the IPPO – the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU), the Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB), and the Provincial Special Operations Group (PSOG).

Lucas said he transferred Pinuela to lead the IPPO Provincial Plans and Strategy Management Unit.

The PSMU is in charge of the implementation of the PNP integrated Transformation Program – Performance Governance System (PNP ITP-PGS) 2030 is the governance Roadmap of the PNP.

The PGS is the Philippine adaptation of the Balanced Scorecard, a management tool used in tracking the organization’s progress in attaining its vision by 2030.

The PNP ITP-PGS Roadmap is now called the “PNP PATROL Plan 2030”.

Over the weekend, Lucas said the position left by Pinuela is still vacant.

“Maybe, I could appoint someone on Monday (February 17),” he said.

Lucas did not offer any explanation for the relief. He said he has yet to meet Pinuela’s personnel and assess their performance.

Lucas did not confirm if Pinuela was sacked due to the latest complaints hurled against the units he headed.

Police officers under Pinuela’s command were earlier questioned over the amount of money confiscated during anti-illegal gambling raids.

One of the PSOG-led raids was on the Hernani Baranco Sports Complex in Barangay Golgotha, Janiuay town on Jan. 14, 2020.

Eighty-two persons were charged in court but reports claimed only P11,000 cash were seized from cockfight bettors.

The same unit also raided the Stephanie Coliseum in Barangay Balabag, Dumangas on Feb. 9. The IPPO team declared that P26,220 cash was seized from 154 arrested persons.

But a seaman, who was among the 154 persons, claimed that cops seized a thick bundle of P1,000 bills from his pocket.

Another cockfight enthusiast claimed that his P49,000 cash was also among the seizure.

Pinuela has been a trusted officer of previous provincial directors. Recently, he led an anti-drug operation that led to the recovery of P7.4 million worth of illegal drugs.

Pinuela was also the team leader of several raids against notorious personalities in the province.