Negros Island police honor top-performing units, personnel

The Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO NIR) recognized its top-performing police units and personnel on Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, for accomplishments in crime prevention, drug enforcement, firearms recovery, and the arrest of wanted individuals.

The recognition highlighted police operations conducted in October across Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor, underscoring the regional command’s emphasis on operational readiness, intelligence gathering, and timely response to criminal incidents.

The awards were presented during the Distinguished Visitor’s Program and Awarding Ceremony at Kanlaon Hall, Camp Alfredo M. Montelibano in Barangay Estefania, Bacolod City.

Brig. Gen. Rudecindo L. Reales, PRO NIR regional director, led the ceremony alongside the regional command group.

Richelle H. Verdeprado, a registered social worker, doctorate holder, and City Government Department Head II of Bacolod City’s Department of Social Services and Development, served as guest of honor and speaker.

The ceremony was attended by regional and personal staff, police chiefs, representatives of national support units, awardees, their families, and other PRO NIR personnel.

The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOcPPO) emerged as the region’s top-performing police unit for October under the PRO NIR Bottom-Up Balanced Scorecard System.

Col. Dennis C. Wenceslao, the provincial police director, received the award on behalf of the office.

The scorecard system evaluates police unit performance against operational and organizational targets, although the regional police release did not provide the individual scores or specific indicators used in the October assessment.

Three police personnel received the Medalya ng Papuri for their contributions to firearms recovery, the campaign against wanted persons, and immediate response to a shooting incident.

Lt. Col. Nazer P. Canja, chief of the San Carlos City Police Station in Negros Occidental, was recognized for recording the highest number of surrendered firearms among police stations under PRO NIR in October.

The regional police office did not disclose the total number of firearms surrendered during the period.

Lt. Nero C. Gases, officer-in-charge of the Larena Municipal Police Station under the Siquijor Police Provincial Office, received the same award after his station recorded a 25% arrest efficiency rate in its campaign against wanted persons.

The figure was the highest among police stations in the Negros Island Region for October, according to PRO NIR.

Police Staff Sgt. Olimar T. Bito-on of the Talisay City Police Station in Negros Occidental was also commended for his immediate response to a shooting incident on Oct. 9 in Zone 3, Barangay Concepcion, Talisay City.

The operation resulted in the arrest of a homicide suspect and the confiscation of an improvised firearm and three rounds of live 12-gauge ammunition.

Three other personnel received the Medalya ng Kagalingan for their roles in anti-drug operations and the arrest of individuals facing serious criminal charges.

Capt. Darryl E. Kuhutan, team leader of the Pontevedra Municipal Police Station in Negros Occidental, was recognized for a successful anti-drug operation on Oct. 16 in Purok 3, Barangay 1-Poblacion, Pontevedra.

The buy-bust operation resulted in the arrest of two suspects for alleged violations of Sections 5 and 11 of Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Police confiscated 88.725 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated standard drug price of PHP 603,330, along with other drug paraphernalia.

Sections 5 and 11 of the law penalize the illegal sale and possession of dangerous drugs, respectively.

Police Staff Sgt. Hernane T. Garsolao Jr. of the Himamaylan City Police Station was awarded for his role as a warrant server during a manhunt operation on Oct. 5 at Crossing Antulo, Barangay Su-ay, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental.

The operation led to the arrest of the region’s No. 8 most wanted person, who was facing a murder charge.

Patrolman Alven E. Morino of the Sibulan Municipal Police Station in Negros Oriental was likewise recognized for his participation as a warrant server in an operation on Oct. 7 in Purok 5, Barangay Poblacion, Sibulan.

The operation resulted in the arrest of the region’s No. 3 most wanted person, who was facing four counts of qualified rape of a minor and five counts of sexual assault.

PRO NIR said the accomplishments demonstrated the importance of proactive policing, effective intelligence operations, and coordinated law enforcement efforts in addressing criminal activities across the region.

The recognition also underscored the need to maintain operational readiness and ensure that police personnel respond promptly to incidents affecting public safety.

The regional command emphasized that professionalism, accountability, and effective police service remain essential to maintaining public trust and protecting communities.

Under the Philippine National Police’s Focused Agenda on Enhanced Managing Police Operations, PRO NIR said it would continue strengthening crime prevention, intensifying law enforcement activities, and improving police response.

The regional command reaffirmed its commitment to the PNP’s service campaign, “Bagong PNP para sa Bagong Pilipinas: Serbisyong Mabilis, Tapat, at Nararamdaman.”

While the awards recognized specific operational accomplishments, sustained improvements in public safety will ultimately depend on effective crime prevention, successful prosecution of offenders, and police accountability across the Negros Island Region.