Bacolod mayor weighs candidates for next BCPO chief

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — Mayor Greg Gasataya said the city government is in the process of selecting the next director of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO).

“We are finalizing everything, and we will announce in due time,” Gasataya said in a media interview Thursday following the exit call of Police Col. Joeresty Coronica at the Bacolod City Government Center.

Gasataya confirmed the city has received a list of candidates for the post and said he hopes to make a recommendation soon from those submitted.

Coronica, the outgoing BCPO director, said he is awaiting his reassignment order from the Police Regional Office–Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR).

The regional office is also awaiting the mayor’s decision on which of the five candidates will be selected to lead the BCPO.

Coronica said the mayor has 15 days to decide and respond to the regional office’s letter.

If there is no response within that period, the Philippine National Police in Camp Crame will appoint an officer to supervise the city police force.

Up for promotion, Coronica has served as BCPO director for a year and six months.

“It’s time for a career development,” he said.

A native of Barangay Mansilingan, Coronica was assigned to the BCPO in July 2024.

He previously served as a police chief in Negros Occidental before his promotion and later served as city director of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) before his Bacolod assignment.