Next PRO-6 chief known by first week of July
By first week of July, the PNP hierarchy would name its main man in Western Visayas.
This, PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa assured when he visited Iloilo City for the retirement honors of outgoing Police Regional Office (PRO) VI director Chief Supt. Isagani Cuevas last Friday.
In fact, Verzosa revealed that the movement of personnel will be felt not only in Western Visayas but on other parts of the country, which might include the PNP National Headquarters in Camp Crame.
“We are on the process of deliberations but we would be conducting and designating the new officers of he different commands after the new president has taken his oath of office,” he said.
But Verzosa declined to give a short list of those being considered to replace Cuevas.
Instead, he said that all-star ranks (those holding the position of chief superintendent) are considered for the post.
Cuevas exited the police service Friday, June 25, since he reached his 56th birthday, the mandatory age of retirement, last June 27.
A member of Philippine Military Academy Class 1978, Cuevas served for more than 37 years.
PRO-6’s second in command, Deputy Regional Director for Administration (DRDA) Chief Supt. Artemio Hicban temporarily took over the post.
It was not clear if Hicban, a member of the PMA Class 1978, is also being considered for the post.
Meanwhile, Hicban said that he is open to accepting any post where he is deemed needed.
For now, he claimed that he would just continue the existing policy from the higher headquarters unless there is a decision that needed to be done immediately.
Hicban also clarified that he would not institute a movement of personnel in his rather short stint.
“Since I’m only acting in an OIC capacity, I have no power of transfer unless it’s extremely necessary. But still, I need to clear that with the higher headquarters,” he added.
Meanwhile, the change in Friday’s ceremony created a stir on some attendees.
It was gathered that a turn-over of command ceremony should have been lumped with Cuevas’ retirement honors.
However, it did not push through.
Hicban, who prepared a speech for the supposed turn-over rites, admitted that the organizers did not go with the program because “it is inappropriate to have a turn over of command program during a retirement honor.”
“Isa pa, I’m just an OIC. I’m not new to the place and the administration here. There’s no need for a formal turn-over,” he explained.
