• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) has designated new officers-in-charge for several police stations in Negros Oriental, following the relief of the police provincial director and six police chiefs under the Philippine National Police (PNP) one-strike policy against illegal gambling.
Effective Aug. 28, designated OICs were PLt. Col. Ronoel Fung for Bayawan City Police Station; PLt. Col. Nerito Lobrido, Guihulngan City Police Station; PMaj. Antonio de Leon Jr., Sibulan Municipal Police Station; PCapt. Berwyn Soreno, Ayungon Municipal Police Station OIC; PCapt. Cecile Mingay, Tayasan Municipal Police Station; and PCapt. Roldan Marana, Pamplona Municipal Police Station.
The appointments followed the simultaneous anti-illegal gambling operations conducted by the PRO-NIR Regional Special Operations Group on Aug. 28, which resulted in the arrest of six individuals allegedly involved in illegal numbers games in six areas of Negros Oriental.
Relieved from their posts were PCol. Timmar Alam, provincial director of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NORPPO); PLt. Col. Joeson Parallags, chief of Bayawan City Police Station; PLt. Col. Romeo Cubo, OIC of Guihulngan City Police Station; PMaj. Mary Jean Gutierrez, OIC of Sibulan Municipal Police Station; PCapt. James-Taylor Pineda, OIC of Pamplona Municipal Police Station; PCapt. Artupo Marfil III, acting police chief of Tayasan Municipal Police Station; and PCapt. Joesanne Magalso, OIC of Ayungon Municipal Police Station.
PCol. Lito Patay, deputy regional director for operations of PRO-NIR, was designated as concurrent officer-in-charge of NOrPPO.
Meanwhile, PLt. Col. Antonio Benitez assumed as acting police chief of the Escalante City Police Station in Negros Occidental effective Aug. 25, succeeding PLt. Col. Florendo Fajardo.
The leadership changes form part of the PNP’s intensified campaign against illegal gambling, with commanders being held accountable for the continued operation of illegal numbers games within their areas of responsibility. | GPB
