Gwen submits her choice for CPPO director

CEBU, Philippines - Governor Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday admitted to media she suggested one name of police official to be included in the list of recommendees for replacement as director of the Cebu Provincial Police Office.

Although she did not name the official, the governor said he presently assigned is at the Police Regional Office-7 whose career she has been observing being the chair of the Regional Peace and Order Council in Central Visayas.

Garcia said that although this official is her choice to head the CPPO, she still has to wait for the list of three names from Camp Crame .

PRO-7 director Ager Ontog already submitted the list of recomendees to the governor days after CPPO director Erson Digal submitted his resignation letter as the CPPO director.

The three who are recommended to replace Digal are Senior Supt. Mariano Natuel, PRO-7 community relations head; Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, Regional Investigation and Detective Management Division chief, and Supt. Ernesto Agas, Regional Operation and Plans Division chief. Police Senior Supt. Louie Oppus, Deputy Regional Director for Operations, is now the officer-in-charge of the CPPO.

Ontog earlier said Oppus can no longer be appointed CPPO director as he is already over qualified for the position because he is just a step away to become a one star general.

Oppus was appointed as the officer-in-charge of CPPO after Digal was relieved to the PRO-7.

Garcia reassured her support to the new CPPO director that will be chosen soon.

The province already has purchased two vans to be used by the Scene of the Crime Operatives in the investigation of big crimes in the province.

Garcia said she will turn them over to the new CPPO director and extend other supports to the police should there be requests. — (FREEMAN)