‘CHANGING OF THE GUARD’: Is Gen. Villaflor leaving Western Visayas police?

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Will Western Visayas get a new Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 director soon?

This, following reports that Brigadier General Sidney Villaflor is heading out of the region soon.

But sources said that Villaflor’s possible relief is more of a promotion on his part, as he is slated to occupy a two-star rank position at the PNP national headquarters in Camp Crame.

The movement at the top was triggered by the retirement of some PNP top brass to include Lieutenant General Rhodel Sermonia, the former PNP deputy chief for administration, and Major General Eric Noble, the former head of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM).

When asked to comment on his possible relief, Villaflor said there is no order yet.

As such, it still remains as “bali-balita lang,” he added.

While some might label it as rumors, there are already several names being floated to replace Villaflor.

These include Brigadier Generals Rodolfo D Castil Jr., Jack Wanky, Chito Bersaluna, Martin Defensor Jr, and Roderick Augustus Alba.

Alba and Wanky are members of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Class of 1992 while Castil belongs to PNPA 1993.

On the other hand, Bersaluna is from PNPA 1994 and Defensor is a member of PNPA 1995.

Wanky, a native Buguias, Benguet, is married to an Ilongga. He is the acting director of the Aviation Security Group (AVSeGroup).

Wanky is also the former deputy regional director for operations of the PNP National Capital Region Police Office and chief of staff of the Philippine National Police Academy.

On the other hand, Alba is currently the deputy director of the PNP Directorate for Human Resource Development Division (DHRDD). He used to be the regional director of PRO-7 and the former chief of the PNP Public Information Office.

Alba was also the former PNP head coordinator with the Presidential Task Force on Media Security and also became a spokesperson.

He also served as director of the Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO) and PRO-6 Regional Operations Division (ROD)

Castil is the deputy director of the DIDM. He used to be the director of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG) and the commander of the Negros Occidental Provincial Police Office (NOCPPO).

Meanwhile, Bersaluna is the deputy director for operations of the Directorate for Operations.

He was also the former executive officer of the PNP Area Police Command (APC) Western Mindanao and former chief of San Juan City police.

Bersaluna, who used to be the Caloocan City police chief, was relieved after the controversial killing of Kian delos Santos. He was eventually promoted to Bulacan provincial police chief.

Meanwhile, Defensor, an Ilonggo, is the deputy director for administration of the PNP Regional Office 4-B (MiMaRoPa).

He was also the former PRO-6 Deputy Regional Director for Operations and director of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO).