Hicban to’ ‘temporarily’ act as WV’s police chief
After a lot of speculations and insinuations, things apparently boiled down to the PNP’s hierarchy deferral to appoint a police chief in Western Visayas.
Yesterday, outgoing Police Regional Office (PRO) VI chief Chief Supt. Isagani Cuevas confirmed reports of the temporary appointment of Chief Supt. Artemio Hicban as PRO-6 chief.
Cuevas will turn 56 years old, the mandatory age of retirement for both PNP and AFP personnel, on June 27.
Hicban, a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1978, is currently the PRO-6 deputy director for administration.
Although he belonged to the military class where outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is an honorary member, information claimed that he is not as “close” to the country’s chief executive as opposed to other PMA Class ‘78 graduates.
In fact, observers claimed that Hicban did not grab a key position in the police service despite his seniority. Prior to his assignment in Western Visayas, he was the deputy chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO)’s Eastern Police District.
“Actually, the information is true that on the 25th of June, instead of 27th, the command will be turned over to Chief Supt. Artemio Hicban,” Cuevas said.
He added that the regular regional director will be installed sometime in July during the incumbency of the new president.
“It’s a way of giving a hand to the new president. Maybe, some people think that it’s quite distasteful to appoint officials with only a week to go before the assumption of the new president. Anyway, it won’t take time. It’s just a few days,” he added.
Further, “when the new president assume post, it is customary on the part of the PNP to have his action be implemented through appointments of the positions that call for recommendations coming from SOPPB (Senior Officers Placement and Promotions Board),” Cuevas said.
When asked on the possibility of Hicban bagging the post permanently, the outgoing region’s top cop said that nothing is certain for now.
“The action will be coming from the CPNP. Of course, it is with the approval of the chief executive. Of course, the president is new and the police organization respects his authority. So, let’s just wait by July after I have turned the command to our deputy regional director for administration,” Cuevas said in conclusion.
