By DANNY O. SAGUN

PUBLIC officials perceived to be close to former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. may now be watching their backs as anytime they could be replaced or reassigned.

In fact, the sudden reassignment of Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil to Camp Crame was seen as the first of such moves against De Venecia’s proteges.

Bataoil was in China when Chief Superintendent Romeo Hilomen, whose name was mentioned in the reported abduction of ZTE-NBN star witness Jun Lozada being the head of the police security and protection unit, took over the police Region 1 command.

The Region 1 police office was adjudged number one for 2007 duplicating its feat in 2006. Also getting major awards for their respective categories were the Pangasinan PNP office and the Dagupan city police station. The regional mobile group also won.

The trip in China for Bataoil and his field men were said to be “a bonus” for their fine performance.

Bataoil must have known this was coming but didn’t figure out it would be so soon and in this rapid fashion.

He had said earlier it is possible he would be reassigned with the retirement of two ranking officials last February and this month. He might have expected to be named to a major position in the PNP hierarchy.

But the post he got after his relief as regional director was said to be a minor one.

De Venecia was ousted as Speaker last month by congressional allies of Malacanang when he could not stop his son and namesake Jose de Venecia III from talking about the ZTE-NBN anomaly before the Senate.

The fourth district congressman eventually asked President Arroyo to resign as earlier called by forces or groups against her continued stay in office due to allegations of corruption involving her and husband Miguel Arroyo.

Also reported on the brink of losing his post was public works and highways Regional Director Fidel Ginez, who is concurrently head of the Agno River Flood Control Office. He is also officer-in-charge of the Sta. Barbara-based DPWH sub-office.

Ginez however was reportedly quick to look for a “godparent” of sort. He was said to have obtained the support of third district Rep. Rachel Arenas who voted for the ouster of De Venecia and is apparently now in the good graces of Malacanang.

Also affected by De Venecia’s falling out from the Arroyo patronage were some prominent project contractors and suppliers who for several years had enjoyed what it was like to be close to the powers-that-be, observers said.