Guv optimistic on new Neg. Occ. police chief

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has chosen Police Colonel Romy Palgue to lead the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) here.

Palgue, a native of Nueva Viscaya, was designated as the new officer-in-charge of Nocppo effective June 4, 2020, replacing Police Colonel Romeo Baleros, who is set to retire on June 6.

Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, director of Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 led the turnover of command and retirement honors at the Nocppo headquarters here last Thursday.

Lacson, who was also present in the event, said that Palgue has been in the police service for 25 years now, and he is confident that he can do good as provincial police director.

“I am confident that he is up to the job,” he added.

Lacson said that “It is important that we can keep Negros Occidental safe at all times,” adding that criminality has been going down.

He said that he is very confident that Palgue will continue what has been done by the previous director when it comes to peace and order.

He said that he is hoping that Palgue will be able to keep the threat of drugs away from the Negrenses.

For his part, Palgue, a member of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Class 1997, who was previously assigned at the Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development, said that he has bigger shoes to fill, but he is more than willing, and ready to take on the momentous task placed before him.

“I call on every man and woman, uniformed and non-uniformed personnel alike, of Nocppo to bless me with your loyalty and service.  If it is not too much to ask of you, I remind you to not place your trust and confidence on the Officer but I call on you to respect, trust and support the Office of the Provincial Director,” he said in his speech.

Palgue said that he will continue the strict adherence to strengthen PRO6’s command.

“I have already requested for the crime statistics to orient me with the crime environment of Negros Occidental,” he added.

He vowed to further enhance the Nocppo’s capability in epidemic response without placing the lives of those working on the frontlines at risk.

He will also intensify the campaign against all forms of illegal activities especially the irregularities in the distribution of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) for qualified beneficiaries amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

He said he will maintain high regard for internal cleansing, stressing that he will not tolerate any form of illegality within the ranks.

Meanwhile, Baleros, who served as Nocppo director for one year and six months, expressed his gratitude to all who supported his programs and helped him make the province safe from all forms of threats.

Baleros, during the rites, was given by PRO-6 the Philippine National Police (PNP) Long Service Medal with two silver stars for having completed 31 years, one month, and five days of faithful and honorable service with the PNP from May 1, 1989 to June 6, 2020.

He was also given a PNP Efficiency Medal for his exemplary performance efficiency, loyalty, and devotion to duty rendered to PRO-6 as provincial director of Nocppo from March 12, 2019 to June 5, 2020.

Also present in the occasion were Silay City Mayor Mark Golez, 3rd District Board Member Andrew Montelibano, Police Colonel Henry Biñas, director of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), and Colonel Inocencio Pasaporte, commander of Army’s 3rd Infantry Brigade (ID).