Lelis replaced Superintendent Elson Pecho, who served as provincial police director for more than two months. Pecho is due for compulsory retirement in January next year.
Gov. Remedios Petilla and Chief Superintendent Dionisio Coloma Jr., Eastern Visayas police director, were present during the turnover.
Prior to his new post, Lelis was the police district director of Ormoc City. He also served as provincial director of the Southern Leyte police before he was assigned to Ormoc about two years ago.
In her brief remarks, Petilla appealed to Lelis to lead and pursue an effective anti-illegal drug campaign in the province.
"I’m expecting the new leadership of Lelis, of course with support from civilians and other police officers, to make Leyte a drug-free province," she said.
Last week, Coloma relieved Superintendent Alberto Menda—dor as Northern Samar police director, and replaced him with Superintendent Isias Tonog, a member of Class 1984 of the Philippine National Police Academy. Tonog is a native of Catarman, Northern Samar.
Mendador was temporarily reassigned to Coloma’s office.
Replacing Lelis as Ormoc City district police director is Senior Superintendent Fermillano Siega, former personnel division chief of the Region 8 (Eastern Visayas) police.