New police chiefs named for Bacolod, Iloilo cities

By Jennifer P. Rendon

The two highly urbanized cities in Western Visayas have new police chiefs effective Tuesday, July 23.

The Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 formally installed Colonel Kim Legada as the head of the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), while his predecessor, Colonel Joeresty Coronica, will assume the top post at the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO).

Legada, the outgoing chief of the Regional Plans and Strategy Division, was initially scheduled to assume the ICPO post last week.

However, Brigadier General Jack Wanky, Western Visayas police chief, stated they postponed the turnover rites to take place after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).

Coronica departs from the ICPO after serving for more than a year and five months.

It was initially reported that Coronica would swap posts with Legada.

Following Colonel Noel Aliño’s relief as BCPO director, Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez selected Coronica to be his successor.

Aliño, who served as BCPO chief since April 2023, has now assumed the role of chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) – National Capital Region.

It has also been reported that the relief of commanders and key officers will not end with Coronica and Legada.