Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday denied knowledge about the reported impending relief of city police director, Senior Supt. Pedro Merced.

"That's news to me. I haven't gotten word from anybody up there," he said in an interview yesterday.

Reports had surfaced that a list of three recommendees to replace Merced will soon be forwarded to Leonardia.

Merced's association with former city police director Vicente Ponteras and Transportation Assistant Secretary Ricardo Tan, both of whom are rumored to challenge Leonardia's reelection bid in 2007, is reportedly the reason why his days in the Bacolod City Police Office are already numbered.

Leonardia said he rates Merced's performance as passing.

Merced, who took over as city police director in October last year, said yesterday he is "always ready to be relieved if the appointing authority has no more trust in me."

He said, however, he was shocked to learn about the report of his looming dismissal.

"I have not committed any blunder that will cause my relief except for reasons outside the service", Merced said after just receiving the "Medalya ng Kasanayan" from the Police Regional Office 6 for maintaining peace and order situation during the MassKara Festival.

Still, he said he is not married to his position and is ready to relinquish it if the mayor no longer trusts him.

He said he thinks he has done his part well in placing the BCPO as a consistent number two in the performance evaluation rating in Western Visayas.

BCPO is also one of the national finalists in the Operational Readiness Security Inspection Test and Evaluation, he said.*NLG/DMG

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