Bañas leaving as Central Visayas top cop

CEBU, Philippines - It looks like Chief Superintendent Prudencio Tom Bañas is leaving as Police Regional Office-7 director.

A Camp Crame source, who requested anonymity but is privy to movements within the Police National Police, said Bañas would likely be replaced by Chief Superintendent Jose Gentiles, deputy director, directorate for Intelligence.

Senior Superintendent Rey Lyndon Lawas, regional directorial staff chief, said he neither had no idea if there is a pending relief order intended for the regional director nor does he know of any replacement.

Bañas, though, already told Cebu reporters in a press conference last Monday that he will miss them and that he might be transferred anytime.

On Tuesday, he made the same statement and added that he already received a notice informing him to get ready for his next assignment.

Under Bañas’ stewardship, PRO-7 received several awards and commendations in the campaign against illegal drugs and loose firearms.

For two straight years, PRO-7 has also been named as top performing regional office all over the country for its anti-illegal drugs and loose firearms campaigns.

Meanwhile, sources said Gentiles, who served as police attache in Washington DC, is a member of PMA class 1984. His classmates occupying key PNP positions are former PNP spokesman and now PNP Director for Intelligence Generoso R. Cerbo and Chief Superintendent Noel G. Constantino of the Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies, who were also previously assigned at PRO-7.

The Maharlika class has three police directors, six are regional police directors, two are Metro Manila police district directors, and eight are commanders of different PNP national operational and administrative support units.

Bañas, on the other hand, is a member of PMA class 1983. (FREEMAN)