As part of a region-wide implementation of the Philippine National Police (PNP) policies, the province of Negros Oriental is scheduled to receive additional troops in the near future.
Sr. Supt. Edwin Portento, the acting provincial police director, disclosed Wednesday afternoon that the other provinces in Central Visayas or Region 7 are also already implementing these PNP policies.
One of this is the balance in the distribution of police personnel, that requires a re-shuffling or re-assignment of police officers to positions that are suitable for their ranks, he said.
Portento disclosed that along this line, additional officers will be sent here as part of the region-wide move, he added.
The police director explained that the PNP is looking not only “after Dumaguete, but the entire province of Negros Oriental as far as the deployment of officers and non-commissioned officers”.
Sr. Supt. Portento further explained that he hopes that he can do the balancing at his level, however if his efforts are not successful and he will have difficulty, then the PNP Regional Office 7 will have to do it.
Portento was referring to the recent movement among police chiefs in Negros Oriental, including that of Dumaguete where the transfer of the previous police chief was met with heavy criticism from the city mayor and some city councilors.
The city officials had expressed disappointment over the relief of then police chief Supt. Jovito Atanacio, who was replaced by Supt. Jonathan Pineda.
They noted that Sr. Supt. Portento did not give prior notice to them that Supt. Pineda would assume the post last Nov. 6, but the former said that Atanacio’s transfer was imminent.
But he hopes that the problem has been resolved, pointing out that the city officials are “professional enough” to understand that a decision has to be made.
He was referring to Atanacio’s “overstaying” in his post, with having extended his regular tour of duty of two years to about three months until his relief.
Portento is hopeful that the misunderstanding that transpired is finally over so that they can move on as he expressed hope that the city council will support the new police chief because “constituents of Dumaguete City are relying on the support of the city council through him”.
The city council had earlier announced they would withhold the budget allocation for the city police station unless Atanacio’s relief has been ironed out. (Judy Flores Partlow/PNA)