PRO-7 loses over 1,000 cops to Negros Island Region

CEBU, Philippines - With the creation of the Negros Island Region, Police Regional Office-7 will lose more than 1,000 policemen effective today in favor of the new regional police office.

PRO-7 received a memorandum yesterday from the national police headquarters in Camp Crame to let go of the 1,359 policemen currently assigned at the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office.

Superintendent Renato Dugan, PRO-7 spokesperson, said these policemen will now be under Police Regional Office-18.

“So effective October 1 (tomorrow), they are already separated and will be part of the PRO-18,” said Dugan.

Dugan said the order was already relayed to the affected policemen. Their records will be transferred from PRO-7 to PRO-18. The new regional police office will cover the two provinces in Negros Island – Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental.

Negros Oriental used to be under Region-7 along with Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor while Negros Occidental used to be a part of Region-6 alongside Iloilo, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Guimaras.

Dugan said PRO-7 is willing to realign some qualified applicants that were not hired because of the limited quota should the new regional police office need more policemen.

“We can realign these applicants to other regions, those we call adjacent regions. We can consider the PRO-18 an adjacent region to PRO-7,” said Dugan.

Dugan said the PRO-7 used to have 8,755 police personnel but with the relief of the 1,359 policemen, the region will now be left with around 7, 396 police personnel. — (FREEMAN)