An incensed Governor Roel Degamo on Wednesday ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Negros Oriental to come up with a full updated report on the crime situation in the province.
Gov. Degamo could not help but express his frustration during the regular meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting at the old session hall of the Capitol, where heads of government agencies were in attendance, when PNP representatives failed to produce an updated report.
For an unknown reason, OIC provincial police director Supt. Alet Virtucio was not present during the PPOC meeting, which made it more difficult for the governor and members of the body to receive some clarifications.
This is the 2nd time this year that the PNP failed to present a complete report detailing crime statistics in Negros Oriental and also the 2nd time for Supt. Virtucio to be represented by a junior officer.
In an interview with reporters later, the governor said he wanted to be updated with the real situation in the province, and also in Dumaguete City where a spate of killings last year and this year has caught public attention.
Degamo cited the latest shooting incident in the province involving a councilor in Guihulngan City in the northern part of the province on Tuesday.
According to the governor, his strong directive to Supt. Virtucio is to enhance police operations and report on what the police have done so far in responding to these crimes.
He is hoping that during the next meeting of the peace and order council, a comprehensive report on the crime situation in the province of Negros Oriental and its capital, Dumaguete City, will be presented to the body.
Meanwhile, Gov. Degamo has called anew on the PNP hierarchy to fast track the appointment of a full-fledged provincial police director for Negros Oriental to be able to address the peace and order and crime concerns in the province.
Degamo said the province needs a police director with the rank of senior superintendent to be at the helm of police operations.
The name of Sr. Supt. Orlando Oualat has been floated to be assigned to Negros Oriental as the next provincial PNP director, but, according to Degamo, the former will still be holding an OIC status.
Nevertheless, Degamo said he will be happy to have Sr. Supt. Oualat in the province.
He lamented that until today, he has not received a list of three names of qualified PNP officers from whom he shall choose the next provincial police director for Negros Oriental. (PNA/JFP)
