Former Iloilo top cop now heads Bacolod police

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Police Colonel Noel Aliño, newly-designated acting director of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), vowed to intensify police presence as part of the crime prevention measures here under his stint.

The turnover ceremony was presided by Police Colonel Arnold Thomas Ibay, deputy regional director for operations of Police Regional Office (PRO)-6, in the presence of Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez, and Councilor Pao Sy at the BCPO headquarters yesterday.

Aliño’s arrived in the city a day after Benitez revealed that the city needs a new police director following three cases of mutilated human body parts dumped in various areas here this year.

It also coincided with the fact that former BCPO director Colonel Thomas Joseph Martir is set to retire on May 14.

In a media interview after the ceremony, Aliño stressed that there is a need for change.

Thus, he said that he will start by intensifying the presence of policemen on the streets to deter crimes in the city.

Aliño reiterated the need to strengthen visibility patrol for the safety of the public.

He said that as much as possible, police officers should be seen on the streets and not in their offices.

“Magsipag sila. Bawal ang duwag na police,” he added.

Despite the plan for changes, Aliño said that he will continue the programs of Martir that brought improvements to the city.

Aliño noted the importance of the public’s cooperation in the anti-criminality campaign.

“Humihingi ako ng tulong sa inyo. We will work as a team. Tulungan niyo kami,” he said.

He also said that he will focus on probing previous cases that were left unsolved.

Prior to his assignment here, Aliño, who is from Isabela in Luzon, was the director of the Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO) and chief of the Regional Intelligence Division of PRO-6.

Meanwhile, Benitez thanked Martir for the service he rendered and the accomplishments he made for the city.

Benitez said the challenge for the new BCPO director is to adhere to the highest excellence because that’s what the people demand.

“It’s not good enough to be performing, it has to be beyond the performance that people expect,” the mayor said.

“There will be lots of expectations and problems, especially in a highly-urbanized city. There’s a lot of work to be done but we will be strong partners,” Benitez said, as he assured that the city will be behind the city police force to ensure that they will have enough resources and logistics to deliver their service to the people.

Benitez said that Aliño’s designation to the city was not his personal choice, but an objective choice.

“We decided based on performance and track record,” Benitez said.

Aliño was among the five candidates that are included in the selection for a new BCPO director, according to Benitez.

Benitez said that the best way to move forward is to be able to find the right person to do the job.

“Hopefully, I think you (Aliño) are the right person to do the job. We are expecting great results,” he added.

Benitez said that Bacolod City is a great city. Thus, he would like it to be a greater city with everybody’s help.

Benitez said he is hoping that the BCPO will hasten the investigation of unsolved cases and will intensify police visibility.

“We will give him time to prove himself. We will see. Dapat par excellence. Our standard here is that it has to be bigger than average. We’re expecting no less, thus his performance should also be the same,” Benitez said.

He is also hoping that the cases of mutilated human body parts will stop.

“Dapat mauntat na na. Daw gina taunt ta abi. Daw indi normal. Ngaa himuon mo na unless daw ka isog na gid sa imo na daw wala ka na gid kulba?,” the local chief executive said.

Benitez is looking forward to discussing future plans with Aliño to establish and put in effect a more effective peace and order situation in the city.

For his part, Martir, who is from Bacolod City, served the city police force for one year and six months.

He thanked the local government, all public officials, and BCPO personnel, as well as the Bacolodnons for their support and cooperation during his stint.