PRO-18 activation affects PRO-7 ops

CEBU, Philippines - The operations of the Police Regional Office-7 has reportedly been affected after at least two of its top officials were promoted and transferred to the newly formed Police Regional Office-18 in Negros Island Region.   

Chief Superintendent Prudencio Tom Bañas, PRO-7 Director, said that with the opening of PRO-18, police officials in the region have also being re-assigned to occupy the top positions in the neighboring region.

Chief Superintendent Conrad Capa, who was once the deputy regional director for operations of PRO-7 and the officer-in-charge of the Cebu City Police Office, has been appointed as the first regional director of PRO-18.

Senior Superintendent Valfrie Tabian, Deputy Regional Director for Operations for PRO-7, is the new deputy regional director for administration in PRO-18.

 Sr. Supt. Mariano Natuel Jr., former Mandaue City Police Office OIC, was appointed as the regional chief of the directorial staff of PRO-18.

Further, the national headquarters has appointed HPG deputy director for administration, Senior Superintendent Sheldon Jacaban, to the DRDA of PRO-7 after Chief Superintendent Orlando Ualat, former DRDA, has been promoted to take the leadership of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations-Visayas.

On top of that, Bañas said that Bohol Police Provincial Office and Cebu Police Provincial Police Office directors are set to be re-assigned after they complete their respective tours of duty.

Bañas said that as men in service, they have to follow orders, and because of the revamp that has been taking place at the PRO-7, the police operations in the region have been affected.  

On the other hand, Bañas said that only the key positions were left vacant while the other posts are intact. He explained that the vacated positions would need to be addressed immediately before the election ban, otherwise will be left in the care of an official concurrent to the positions.

However, the appointment process for the said posts reportedly takes time and only the national headquarters’ Senior Officers Placement Board (SOPB) will decide who to appoint.

If the SOPB declares a key position vacant, officers who meet the qualifications are free to apply and it will be up to SOPB to choose the most qualified.

In the case of the city and provincial directors, the SOPB will choose at least five names and send it to the provincial governor or to the city mayor, who will be the ones to pick who will be the provincial and city director, respectively.

Bañas said though that he has recommended Sr. Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, regional chief of the directorial staff, to be the next DRDO. —(FREEMAN)