Ecija top cop ends tour of duty

CABANATUAN CITY, Philippines  – Nueva Ecija’s provincial police director is leaving his command post tomorrow, with a legacy of a peaceful and orderly May elections and the dismantling of various criminal syndicates.

Senior Superintendent Ricardo Marquez, a member of the Philippine Military Academy’s Batch ’82, will turn over his post to Senior Superintendent Roberto Aligayu in ceremonies at the Nueva Ecija Provincial Police Office tomorrow.

Aligayu is the former commander of the Regional Mobile Group based in Camp Olivas, Pampanga.

Marquez, who was actually “relieved” four times already, but which did not push through for unknown reasons, is considered “too senior” for his provincial posting since many of his “mistahs” are already holding ranks of chief superintendents in the PNP. He assumed the provincial directorship on June 28,2008 vice Senior Superintendent Napoleon Taas who served for only six months. 

The list of recommendees to the post of provincial police director originally consisted of 18 aspirants but this was pruned down to only three, namely Aligayu and fellow Senior Superintendents Ramon Apolinario and Roel Obusan.

Apolinario is currently chief of the regional personnel office of the National Capital Region Police Office. He used to be city director of the Davao City police.

Obusan is assigned with the Highway Patrol Group in Camp Crame. He used to be the intelligence officer of the Nueva Ecija Provincial Police Office.

Under the PNP Law, the National Police Commission will submit the names of three nominees to the provincial governor for his choice. If none of them is selected, the PNP will submit another list.

The province is considered a breeding ground for future chiefs of the PNP.