PRO-6 orders relief of 46 Western Visayas police chiefs

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Effective Jan. 30, a total of 46 chiefs of police across Western Visayas have been recommended for relief from their posts as part of a regional personnel rotation.

The move stemmed from a memorandum issued by the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) through Resolution No. 2026-01, approved on Jan. 27, 2026.

The memorandum affects 13 chiefs of police from the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO), 11 from the Antique Police Provincial Office (AnPPO), 10 from the Capiz Police Provincial Office (CPPO), six from the Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO), five from the Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO), and one from the Guimaras Police Provincial Office (GPPO).

Those relieved from the IPPO are PLt. Col. Ahlie Estember of Oton Municipal Police Station (MPS), PMaj. Bryan Alamo of Pototan MPS, PMaj. Ciriaco Esquilarga of Barotac Viejo MPS, PMaj. Karl Jerome Tingala of Estancia MPS, PMaj. Samuel Vipinosa of Concepcion MPS, PCapt. Dandy Ilalto of Lambunao MPS, PCapt. Randy Lambungan of Banate MPS, PCapt. Aileen Lacrite of Cabatuan MPS, PCapt. Melvin Mercado of Guimbal MPS, PLt. Christy Val Dalde of San Enrique MPS, PLt. John Michael Dalipe of Ajuy MPS, PLt. Vincent Garcia of Zarraga MPS, and PLt. Cosmeflor Marco Jr. of New Lucena MPS.

From the AnPPO, those relieved are PMaj. Dominick Parreño of Culasi MPS, PMaj. Ryan Valenzuela of Laua-an MPS, PMaj. Horizon Villanueva of Hamtic MPS, PMaj. Rex Farren of Caluya MPS, PCapt. Harry Jhun Amar of Sebaste MPS, PCapt. Charles Richard Casalan of Tobias Fornier MPS, PLt. Ruth Laudatu of Belison MPS, PCapt. Paul Joseph Oberio of Valderrama MPS, PCapt. Jomel Salarda of San Remigio MPS, PCapt. Dee Yap of Anini-y MPS, and PCapt. Ephrime Udani of Libertad MPS.

Relieved from the CPPO are PLt. Col. Ricardo Jomuad Jr. of Roxas City Police Station, PMaj. Alfred de Leon of President Roxas MPS, PMaj. Tobias Garfin of Dumarao MPS, PMaj. Rachelle Garnica of Pilar MPS, PMaj. Narciso Sables of Mambusao MPS, PMaj. Cheryl Visto of Dumalag MPS, PCapt. Rian Ampoyos of Dao MPS, PCapt. Peter John Cellini of Jamindan MPS, PCapt. Christine Cerbo of Sapian MPS, and PCapt. Jobert de los Reyes of Tapaz MPS.

From the APPO, those affected are PCapt. Moonyen de Joseph of New Washington MPS, PCapt. Conrado Espino Jr. of Balete MPS, PCapt. Maricel Guevara of Numancia MPS, PCapt. Noel Parreño of Tangalan MPS, PCapt. Jayson Mausig of Madalag MPS, and PCapt. Gelbert Batiles of Altavas MPS.

Also included are ICPO personnel, PCapt. Benjie Dicen of Iloilo City Police Station 6, PCapt. Michael Tuburan of ICPS 7, PCapt. Lester Oliveros of ICPS 8, PMaj. Eduardo Siacon Jr. of ICPS 9, and PCapt. Val Cambel of ICPS 10.

The only affected officer from the GPPO is PCapt. Kevin Kenz de los Reyes of Jordan Municipal Police Station.

PRO-6 regional director PBrig. Gen. Josefino Ligan said in a text message that the relief is part of the regular rotation of commanders who have served for six months or longer.

In a press statement, she added that it is part of the regular administrative process of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The personnel movement is being deliberated and processed through the Second Level Officers’ Placement Board, chaired by Brig. Gen. Alexander Mariano, PRO-6 deputy regional director for administration, to ensure transparency, objectivity, and strict adherence to existing PNP policies and guidelines.

The relief and reassignment are based on established criteria, including length of time in the current position, cumulative tenure of duty of at least six years, and merit- and performance-based considerations.

PRO-6 said the action is aligned with the agenda of PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., particularly in strengthening human resource management to ensure optimal personnel deployment and sustained organizational effectiveness.

“This is a regular administrative process anchored on existing PNP policies,” Ligan said. “It aims to ensure fairness, sustain professionalism, and provide equal opportunities for leadership development, while maintaining effective and responsive police service in our communities.”

She emphasized that the reassignment is not punitive in nature but a mechanism to enhance organizational efficiency and prevent familiarity that may affect operational effectiveness.

Meanwhile, a police source said the move was met with resistance from several mayors.

The source confirmed that the list resulted from deliberations focusing on officers who had served beyond the six-month threshold.

Several factors were considered before the list was finalized, including performance in anti-criminality campaigns.

Some of those relieved reportedly recorded zero operations against illegal drugs.

Others argued that their municipalities had been declared drug-free, but members of the deliberation board reportedly questioned their actions against illegal gambling.

Officers who claimed that illegal gambling was nonexistent in their areas were reportedly required to present results from police community relations programs.

The source said some officers also failed to carry out meaningful police community relations activities.

Several chiefs of police were also relieved due to eligibility issues, including the lack of required schooling or training.

Others were removed after it was found that they had accumulated up to six years of service as chiefs of police in various assignments.

The source said even newly assigned officers were included if they had already exceeded the allowable cumulative years of service as chief of police.

The relieved officers are expected to be reassigned to city or provincial police offices to assume staff positions.

The source said the move could also be considered a form of career progression and would open opportunities for other officers to be appointed as chiefs of police.

It was learned that the memorandum covered only the relief order and did not yet specify new assignments.

Another police officer said city and provincial police offices were directed to recommend possible replacements.

Due to personnel shortages, some of the relieved officers may eventually be reassigned to other police stations.

Reports said the relieved officers were ordered to report to the PRO-6 headquarters on Monday, Feb. 2.