Who will be the next top cop in W. Visayas?

By: Jennifer P. Rendon

AFTER SERVING Western Visayas for more than a year, Police Brigadier General John Bulalacao will finally bid adieu.

Come June 27, 2019, Bulalacao will not only say his farewell to the Western Visayas PNP force but to his police career that span more than three decades.

With his retirement up two days from now, the PNP hierarchy has yet to name his successor.

As of late afternoon of June 24, Bulalacao said he has no idea of his replacement as director of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-6.

But he earlier confirmed that at least four officers are being considered to replace him. Three of them are his mistahs or classmates at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Maringal Class of 1988:

• Brigadier Gen. Ferdinand Divina of the PNP Directorate for Intelligence;
• Brigadier Gen. Rene Pamuspusan of the PNP Directorate for Headquarters Service Support Group; and
• Brigadier Gen. Esquivel Jr, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director.

The other officer is Brigadier Gen. Filmore Escobal, a member of PMA Class 91, who is now director of the PNP – Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG).

“I know that whoever will replace me, PRO-6 will be in good hands,” Bulalacao said.

But he claimed to have no idea who has the edge in taking over his post claiming that they’re all competent.

“They have peculiarities, idiosyncrasies, and different characters,” he said.

When asked about his legacy to the people of Western Visayas, Bulalacao refused to elaborate.

“What I’m sure of is my presence as the regional director of PRO-6 was felt by the people of Western Visayas,” he said.

For his successor, Bulalacao said he should be dynamic and they should have their own programs for the PNP in Western Visayas.

Meanwhile, Bulalacao said he has no immediate plan of working – either in government or private companies – after retiring.

In a recent conference at the Malacañan Palace, President Rodrigo Duterte apparently asked police and military generals who will retire in June.

There was one from Armed Forces and only Bulalacao in the PNP.

Duterte was reportedly looking for an officer to lead the Philippine Coconut Authority.

“My family asked me to rest for a while. I don’t have valid reasons to accept offers for now,” Bulalacao said.

A few weeks ago, Bulalacao had been going around Western Visayas for his exit briefing with different police offices in the region.

Before his assumption as PRO-6 chief, he was the spokesman of the PNP.

He used to be the provincial director of Cavite and later on Regional Chief of Directorial Staff of the National Capital Region Police Office.