THE new Police Regional Office (PRO)-Negros Island Region acting director on Friday, May 19, vowed to sustain the fight against illegal drugs and other forms of criminality.
Chief Superintendent Edmund Gonzales, former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Maritime Group, succeeded Chief Superintendent Renato Gumban in rites led by Deputy Director General Ramon Apolinario.
Gonzales said that he will continue the campaign against illegal gambling and corruption in police ranks, but will focus more on illegal drugs as he believes it is the source of criminality.
Gonzales, in his speech, said he will continue Gumban’s worthy innovations and positive reports under his watch as he accepts the challenge to achieve good work.
“I am fortunate to inherit a position that has been ran well with the dedicated support of the people of NIR,” he added.
Gonzales said he cannot yet comment on the identified policemen linked to the illegal drug trade, but said he believes these policemen should be given due process.
He added that he will lobby with the higher headquarters to review and fast track the investigation against the more than 40 policemen, who were relieved by Gumban and moved to different police offices after they were allegedly involved in illegal drug activities.
“We have to assess and validate the information we received against these ‘narco-policemen’ since their credibility is also important,” Gonzales said.
He said that he will significantly concentrate on “internal cleansing” in the ranks of Negrense policemen.
Moreover, Gonzales directed all chiefs of police stations to follow the implementing order on the campaign against illegal drugs, illegal gambling, and other crimes.
He assured the people of NIR that the PRO will serve them with credibility and guidance from the higher headquarters.
Retirement
Gumban, who will officially retire from the police service on May 21 at the age of 56, the mandatory retirement age in the PNP, received two PNP Distinguished Service Medals (Medalya ng Katapatan sa Paglilingkod) for the 35 years he rendered in the police service, from April 1, 1981 until May 21, 2017.
He was also recognized for his eminently meritorious and invaluable service as acting regional director of PRO-18 from August 25, 2016 to January 26 and in full capacity as director on January 27 to May 21.
He was also given a gallery of awards and retirement benefits.
Gumban, who served as the second PRO-NIR director, has implemented policies and strategies to strengthen the operational capability of the regional office in pursuit of the PNP's organizational thrust to serve and protect.
He also established a pro-active partnership with the local government units and non-government organizations to sustain and cope with the challenges of peacekeeping and law enforcement.
Gumban, in his speech, said he is looking forward for Gonzales to selflessly serve the people of NIR and continue the pursuit of cleansing the men and women of PRO-NIR, and giving them 100 percent support in all the advocacies of President Rodrigo Duterte.
For his part, Apolinario said Gumban has consistently achieved his best in the police service.
He is expecting that Gonzales will also do the same or even do more in NIR, he added.