New police chief vows to go after scalawags

Sibulan, Negros Oriental – The new Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office director has vowed to eliminate scalawags in the police ranks and issued a warning to those who are using drugs or involved in illegal drugs activities.

Senior Supt. Augusto Marquez, Jr. issued the warning as he assumed as officer-in-charge of the NOPPO, replacing Sr. Supt. Melvin Omar Buenafe, during the turnover ceremony held in Camp Francisco Fernandez, in barangay Agan-an yesterday morning.

Marquez, who is the former Police Regional Office-7 Regional Intelligence Division chief before he was assigned to NOPPO, recommended at least 30 policemen allegedly involved in nefarious activities to be removed from the service.

“Let this be loud and clear this kind of arrogance will never be tolerated, within the bounds of law ...and to those who use illegal drugs and specially those who are involved illegal drug trafficking and protectors of drug pushers, rest assured that I will eventually find out who you are and when I find out the first high wind will blow you away,” Marquez said.

Marquez asked the public for support in his campaign and also told local media to broadcast his contact numbers. He plans to create a NOPPO website for easy access to the public.

NOPPO was chosen as the Best Provincial Police Office nationwide in 2006 and is next to Siquijor province in terms of the lowest crime rate in the region.

NOPPO will be securing six cities and 19 municipalities, mostly with agriculture as their main livelihood.

Negros Oriental Gov. Emilio Macias II, who attended the turnover ceremony, expressed support to Marquez and his plans.

The ceremony was also attended by PRO-7’s Deputy Director for Administration Chief Supt. Frederico Terte and several religious and local government officials in the province.

Buenafe will be taking charge of the vacated office of Marquez in RID. 

Meanwhile, regional police director Chief Supt. Ronald Roderos said 65 policemen will be assigned to NOPPO. 

He said the basic pay of policemen will increase starting next month.  – Edwin Ian Melecio/BRP