• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) announced on Monday, Jan. 12, the administrative relief of PCol. Criscente Tiguelo as police provincial director of Negros Oriental, following the killing of three police officers and a woman perpetrated by a policeman.
Tiguelo was replaced by PCol. Lito Patay, who will occupy the position as officer-in-charge (OIC) of Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NORPPO).
In a statement, the PRO-NIR said the administrative relief of Tiguelo is in line with command responsibility and established procedures of the Philippine National Police (PNP), with the primary objective of safeguarding public trust and ensuring that ongoing processes and inquiries may proceed without interference or perceived influence.
Tiguelo was relieved after the killing of PCapt. Jose Edrohil Cimafranca, chief of Sibulan Municipal Police Station, and two other police officers, PSMS Tristan Chua and Patrolman Rey Albert Temblor, as well as civilian Chelamie Dinawanao.
The suspect, SSg Bonifacio Saycon, also a member of Sibulan Municipal Police Station, was subjected to inquest proceedings on Monday at the Negros Oriental Provincial Prosecutor’s Office for multiple murder charges after he surrendered to the Tanjay City Police Station.
PLt. Col. Joem Malong, spokesperson of PRO-NIR, said the designation of Patay as OIC of NORPPO is intended to ensure continuity of command, operational stability, and strict supervision of all police units in the province while the administrative process is ongoing.
PLt. Col. Jul Mohammad Jamiri, deputy provincial director for administration of NORPPO, was designated concurrently as OIC of Sibulan Municipal Police Station.
The killing of three police officers took place after Saycon allegedly shot and killed Dinawanao inside a local bar on Jan. 9.
PRO-NIR Director PBrig. Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay reminded the police personnel in the region to strictly adhere to Section 3.1 of the PNP Ethical Doctrine, which mandates the highest standards of morality, decency, and professionalism among police officers.
Section 3.1 explicitly states that PNP members shall set good examples for others to follow and, at no time during their service, shall they be involved in, patronize, or tolerate houses of ill-repute, illegal gambling dens, or other establishments devoted to vice, unless on official duty within their areas of responsibility.
Ibay emphasized that police officers are held to higher ethical standards because of the authority and trust vested in them by the public.
He stressed that conduct, whether on or off duty, that compromises integrity, discipline, and professionalism will not be tolerated.
Ibay said that ethical accountability goes hand in hand with legal accountability, and strict observance of the PNP Ethical Doctrine is essential in preventing incidents that endanger lives and erode public trust. | GB
