Bayawan police chief denies he’s resigning

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – The chief of police of Bayawan City in Negros Oriental has denied earlier reports that he was resigning from his position due to his alleged failure to address the problem on illegal gambling in his area of responsibility (AOR).

Senior Insp. Teddy Picardal, Bayawan Police chief, said he even welcomed the challenge of the Police Regional Office-7, headed by director Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo, for police chiefs and other unit commanders in Negros Oriental to reduce, if not eliminate, illegal gambling in their AORs.

Garbo’s marching order on illegal gambling would mean relief of assignment for those who fail to deliver the expected results.

According to Picardal, he has not tendered his letter of resignation and that it was not true that the police in Bayawan City was not given the support needed from the local government, the local officials and the community.

The Bayawan City local government unit has provided so much in terms of logistics for the City Police to fully comply with their responsibilities, Picardal said.

Picardal said he was surprised to read and hear media reports regarding his purported resignation and, during a recent command conference, he reiterated he was not even planning at all to give up his post.

“The last one to abandon ship is usually the captain,” said Picardal, adding that unless an order is issued by his superiors for his relief, his assignment in Bayawan City is still in effect and that he continues to function as the City Police chief.

Media reports of Picardal’s supposed planned resignation surfaced last week following recorded interviews with Negros Oriental Provincial Police director Sr. Supt. Edward Carranza.

Carranza had then said he had received information from one of his staff that Picardal was resigning although no official letter of resignation was yet received by his office.

Meanwhile, illegal gambling operations, particularly in the illegal version of “swertres” in Bayawan City have slowed down following the ultimatum of Garbo for the police in Negros Oriental to crack down on illegal gambling. —(FREEMAN)