Ligan defends new chiefs of Iloilo City, Antique police

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Following the sudden relief of Colonel Kim Legada as director of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) appointed an overseer before designating Colonel Wilbert Parilla as officer-in-charge effective Jan. 13.

Ten days later, PRO-6 also designated Colonel Ryan Devaras as officer-in-charge of the Antique Police Provincial Office (AkPPO).

He replaced Colonel Lea Rose Peña, who was relieved after completing her two-year tour as Antique police chief.

While both Parilla and Devaras are deemed capable and qualified, their appointments raised concerns among officers, particularly those more senior who may now be bypassed for provincial or city director roles before their retirement.

Devaras and Parilla are both from Cebu and graduates of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA)—Devaras from PNPA Class 2001 and Parilla from Class 2002.

However, several officers at PRO-6 were reportedly commissioned years earlier and had been waiting for appointments to key leadership positions.

In a press conference on Monday, PRO-6 Director Brig. Gen. Josefino Ligan defended the designations of Parilla and Devaras.

“In the case of Parilla, before he was named as OIC of ICPO, there was prior consultation and coordination with the local chief executive,” he said.

Ligan acknowledged that some officers at the PRO-6 regional headquarters are also qualified for the posts but said the preference of the local chief executives (LCEs) was prioritized.

“It’s the same with Colonel Devaras. There was prior discussion with the local chief executive before his designation,” Ligan added.

He said they are now waiting for the LCEs’ formal letters of intent for the two officers’ permanent appointments.

“The choice of the LCEs is crucial in designating commanders in provincial and city director positions,” Ligan noted.

It was gathered that Parilla remains the concurrent chief of the Regional Intelligence Division (RID) 6.

Initial reports indicated that Parilla would be relieved from his RID post upon the appointment of an acting ICPO chief.

There were talks that another officer, previously assigned to ICPO, is also lobbying for the top post.

However, a group has allegedly pushed for Parilla to be permanently appointed as ICPO chief.

Meanwhile, discussions surrounding Devaras’ potential assignment to Antique PPO had circulated for months but only materialized recently.