CEBU CITY, Philippines — Police chief Col. Gemman Vinluan has been relieved from her post to pave the way for an impartial investigation into the killing last week of Mayor David Navarro of Clarin, Misamis Occidental.

Vinluan was assigned at the regional administrative holding unit effective Wednesday, Brig. Gen. Valeriano de Leon, Central Visayas police director, said.

It was also on Wednesday when the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI)-Central Visayas office started its probe into the killing of Navarro after receiving all pertinent documents from the Cebu City police.

De Leon said he issued the relief order so that Vinluan would be available for the investigation.

Central Visayas deputy regional director for operations Col. Geovanie Maines replaced Vinluan.

Navarro was killed in an ambush while being transported by the police to the city prosecutor’s office for inquest proceedings in Cebu City on Friday last week. The mayor was reportedly yanked out of a police vehicle and shot dead.

Three police officers were wounded, one of them critical.

Welcome development

De Leon said President Duterte’s directive for the NBI to take over the investigation is a “welcome development.”

“It will provide a perception of impartial investigation, sparing us of suspicion of possible whitewash. It will allow my organization and personnel to focus on the more important functions of anti-criminality and protecting communities from crime,” he said.

NBI regional director Tomas Enrile said Navarro’s police escorts would be invited for questioning to determine if they committed security lapses.

Vinluan had earlier defended her men, saying ”lapses are possible, but not intentional.” – With Iris Hazel Mascardo/The Freeman