Pavia needs higher-ranking police chief due to crime profile – IPPO

 By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO) stressed the need for a higher-ranking police official to lead the Pavia Municipal Police Station, citing the town’s crime profile and proximity to Iloilo City, amid a recent leadership reshuffle in the local police force.

IPPO director PCol. Bayani Razalan said assigning a lower-ranking officer as chief of police in Pavia is not ideal, given the town’s first-class classification and the nature of crime incidents recorded in the area.

“We know for a fact that Pavia is a first-class municipality. The rank of police lieutenant is under rank,” Razalan said on Monday, June 1.

“We know that Pavia is a contributor to total crime incidents, and a lot of sensational cases have happened there,” he added.

Under the Philippine National Police rank structure adopted in 2019, police lieutenant is the most junior commissioned-officer rank, while police major stands two grades higher and police lieutenant colonel one grade above that.

Razalan said there is a need for a “competent investigator” to lead the local police, considering the town’s proximity to Iloilo City and the volume of cases being handled.

“We need a competent police officer, especially in the investigations,” he emphasized.

Razalan said the appointment of PMaj. Bryan Alamo as officer in charge was also temporary, noting that his assignment was part of internal personnel adjustments within the IPPO.

He explained that Alamo had already exceeded the maximum tour of duty for a chief of police, which is six years, having served in the post for more than eight years.

This, he said, required reassignment in line with police personnel policies and career development requirements.

“The Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) is also aware that there is a shortage of police officers in the IPPO […] That is why I had no other option, considering that Alamo was the only deputy in the Police Community Relations unit, so he was temporarily assigned to Pavia while we carefully select and evaluate other recommendations for the mayor to choose from. It takes us days to properly assess them,” he said.

“Major Alamo already expected that he would not stay long in Pavia. He was only assigned temporarily,” Razalan added.

The IPPO chief said the reassignment was carried out in accordance with existing regulations and was not abrupt, adding that Alamo was informed of the decision and given time to coordinate with local officials.

“There is a need for him (Alamo) to perform other positions like a staff position and preparation for his promotion to Police Lieutenant Colonel,” he said.

Following the reshuffle, PLt. Garry Tayongtong was designated as “temporary caretaker” of the Pavia police.

Razalan said he had submitted five nominees for the Pavia chief of police position to Mayor Luigi Gorriceta.

He said that during discussions with Gorriceta, the issue of Alamo’s retention was clarified, including his length of service as police chief and eligibility for reassignment to staff positions ahead of possible promotion.

The mayor later appointed PMaj. Bonifacio Alabe Jr. as Pavia’s new chief of police, selecting him from the list of recommended officers submitted by the IPPO.

Meanwhile, PRO-6 acting director BGen. Randulf Tuaño denied any interference from regional headquarters in the reassignment of police officials in Pavia.

“No one in PRO-6 can influence the leadership of the regional police,” Tuaño said.

He reiterated that Alamo’s relief was part of standard personnel procedures, noting that the officer had served beyond the allowable tenure as chief of police and had been assigned as caretaker pending the final selection of a permanent station chief.

“In the PRO-6, we will remain professional in the changes and reshuffling of officials,” he said.