City council vows full support to new ICPO chief
The members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod will extend the same support they gave to former Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) director Senior Supt. Wesley Barayuga with newly-installed city police director Senior Supt. Bartolome Tobias.
Councilor Erwin Plagata, chair of the committee on police matters of the city council, said Barayuga has proven his worth when he was still the city police director. He has done good service in terms of keeping peace and order and crime prevention in the city, Plagata said.
Plagata believes that the "shabu talipapa" issue that Barayuga brought to the media has triggered his sudden relief at the city police office.
Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 denied that Barayuga's relief was connected to the "shabu talipapa" issue in the waterfront barangays, yet talks about it continue to persist.
No formal changing of guards happened between Barayuga and his successor though.
Prior to his assignment as acting city police director, Tobias was the chief of the Regional Intelligence and Detective Management at the Police Regional Office 6. He was also part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force sent by the Philippine government to East Timor. On the other hand, Barayuga is set to undergo schooling for logistics management course to get a higher post.
Plagata said he has no qualms on the appointment of Tobias as the new city police director as he is also a decent person.