Lapu-Lapu gets new cop chief

CEBU, Philippines - Starting today, Police Senior Superintendent Arnel Amor Libed will serve as the officer-in-charge of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office, replacing OIC Police Senior Superintendent Armando Radoc.

The ceremonial turnover was held 9 a.m. yesterday at the city police headquarters.

Libed, who was assigned in Camp Crame as chief of Directorate for Research and Development, said he aims to maintain professionalism and internal discipline of his police personnel.

“That is my number one purpose of my agenda dahil di po makakapagtrabaho nang maayos ang ating mga taohan kung hindi sila properly equipped with knowledge and professionalism,” said Libed.

Radoc, meanwhile, said he is thankful to the city, as well as to Mayor Paz Radaza, for giving him a chance to serve them.

“Mapasalamaton ko, una sa tanan sa atong mayor, for giving me the opportunity to serve Lapu-Lapu City. I’d like to say nga naka-accomplish mi sa among trabaho, although this accomplishment cannot be counted by us; it should be counted by the community,” Radoc told reporters.

Radoc, who served as OIC in LCPO for more than a year, will be reassigned to the Regional Plans and Operations Division of Police Regional Office-7.

Radoc started office as acting police director of Lapu-Lapu City last March 2014. He replaced Police Senior Superintendent Rey Lyndon Lawas, who is the current regional director for operations in PRO-7.

Lawas, along with other LCPO police personnel, witnessed Radoc’s turnover of LCPO's blue banner to Libed, which the latter accepted “with honor.”

Asked of his plans for the upcoming youth gathering in the city on January 27 and 28, Libed said he will review the security plans first.

“Actually plans are already in place dito sa Lapu-Lapu, sa Hoopsdome, so the first agenda is to review the plan and make some changes kung may makitang dapat baguhin,” he said.

Lawas separately said, however, that Lapu-Lapu’s security plans for the International Eucharistic Congress Youth will not get affected by the reshuffling of the two police chiefs.

“Dili ma-affect if the plan is there. It’s just a matter kung kinsa ang mo-implement. It’s okay, no problem (about it kay) dali ra ma-adjust,” Lawas said.

Meanwhile, Radaza said she hopes that Libed will continue to monitor drug-related problems in the city. This, as she said Lapu-Lapu is known as tourist destination.

“I feel gyud nga drugs have to be closely monitored, among other things. I emphasized (to Libed) this is a tourist destination. Anyway, we have tourist police (who can help him),” Radaza said.

Radaza said Radoc already informed her early this month of the scheduled revamp.

“Dated January 9, naa’y order nga i-relieve siya (Radoc) unya isulod si Libed,” the mayor said.

The recent revamp was also part of the practice of assigning police personnel to another office during election season.  (FREEMAN)