Police chief prioritizes 10-point agenda

THE newly installed regional police Chief Superintendent Elmer Soria sounded off his 10-point agenda of the Philippine National Police (PNP) as he assumes his post on Monday.

Soria vowed to intensify anti-criminality campaign (illegal gambling and illegal mining), sustain the Integrated Transformation Program and Performance Governance System (ITP-PGS) of the PNP that measure reform programs, as well as enhancement and specialization of skills to develop competencies, enhancement of individual skills and specialization with premium on investigation, resource management and disaster response skills of all PNP members.

Soria likewise vowed to revitalize partnership with the media in winning the hearts of the community, and build strong partnerships with the local government units on crime prevention.

The newly installed regional police chief, in his acceptance speech during the turnover ceremony Monday, particularly emphasized he needs for PNP units across the region to be prepared to respond to disasters or calamities at any given time as the country is expected to experience heavy rains and other weather disturbances that may trigger deadly flashfloods, landslides and mudslides.

For the upcoming elections in 2013, he added they would intensify drive to disperse private armed groups and the confiscation of loose firearms.

Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla, to whom the regional police director expressed his gratitude, said the newly installed director will have a big task ahead particularly with the elections just around the corner.

The governor was in attendance during the ceremony together with other officials, including Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan, Eastern Samar Governor Conrado Nicart, Baybay City Mayor Carmen Cari, Representative Lucy Torres’ chief of staff and husband, actor Richard Gomez, regional directors of national government agencies and other offices under the Department of the Interior and Local Government, as well as police directors and members of the PNP.

Presiding the formal turnover was General Jaime Calungsod, director for the Directorate of Integrated Police Operations-Visayas, who was also the guest of honor and speaker during the ceremony. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)