Iloilo City police stations get new commanders

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Five police officers have been formally designated to lead five stations of the Iloilo City Police Office following a turnover ceremony June 23 at the ICPO headquarters in Iloilo City.

Four of the five officers were recently reassigned to the ICPO from other police offices.

The newly assigned officers are Maj. Sonny Boy Garnace, formerly of the Carles Municipal Police Station under the Iloilo Police Provincial Office; Maj. Paul Vincent Pendon of the Police Regional Office 6 Regional Personnel Records and Management Division; Capt. Jersey Besas, formerly of the Barotac Viejo Municipal Police Station under the IPPO; and Capt. Jesus Cambay III, formerly of the Numancia Municipal Police Station under the Aklan Police Provincial Office.

Garnace succeeded Capt. Gimel Acuesta as chief of the Iloilo City Police Station 2 in La Paz.

Pendon took over ICPS 6 from Capt. Roy Gerard Hualde.

Cambay took over ICPS 7 from Maj. Eduardo Siacon Jr.

Besas replaced Capt. Benjie Dicen as ICPS 9 chief.

Siacon completed the list of new ICPO commanders after taking over ICPS 3 from Capt. Mavin Laraño.

Maj. Shella Mae Sangrines, ICPO spokesperson, said the ICPO leadership instituted the revamp because several officers, including Acuesta and Dicen, are set to undergo schooling.

Laraño, on the other hand, requested to be assigned to the ICPO headquarters.

She now serves as deputy chief of the City Investigation and Detective Management Unit.

Col. Wilbert Parilla, ICPO director, cited the outgoing officers for their valuable contributions to the ICPO’s accomplishments, including its recognition as one of the country’s top-performing city police offices.

Parilla challenged the newly assigned officers to sustain and even surpass the standards set by their predecessors.

“Alagaan ninyo, improve, and deliver what is expected from us. Pagbutihin ninyo at ipakita ang kakayahan para sa tiwalang ibinigay ng ating mga commanders. You have to do it, and you have to show it,” Parilla said.

He further underscored the importance of attitude, discipline and teamwork in achieving organizational success.

“In ICPO, we do not have room for mistakes. Skills and knowledge will always boil down to attitude and discipline. Keep up, do what is right, and always perform according to what is expected of us as police officers,” he added.

Parilla again stressed that the ICPO remains steadfast in its pursuit of organizational excellence and the continuous improvement of police services in support of peace, order and public safety in Iloilo City.