A TOTAL of 1,140 policemen were promoted to a higher rank in Western Visayas Monday, August 20, said Superintendent Joem Malong, public information officer of Police Regional Office (PRO)-Western Visayas.

The donning of ranks was simultaneously held at Bacolod City Police Office, Negros Occidental Police Office (Nocppo), and in PRO-Western Visayas headquarters in Iloilo City on Monday.

Of the total number, 1,118 are non-commissioned officers and 22 are commissioned officers.

Promoted to Chief Inspector from Senior Inspector were 14; Inspector to Senior Inspector, eight; Senior Police Officer(SPO) 4 to Inspector, 21; SPO3 to SPO4, 25; SPO2 to SPO3, 52; SPO1 to SPO2, 298; PO3 to SPO1, 78; PO2 to PO3, 563; PO1 to PO2, 81.

For Nocppo, eight commissioned officers and 185 non-commissioned officers were promoted.

Those promoted to Chief Inspector from Senior Inspector were two; Inspector to Senior Inspector, three; SPO4 to Inspector, three; PO1 to PO2, 13; PO2 to PO3, 98; PO3 to SPO1, two; SPO1 to SPO2, 59; SPO2 to SPO3, two; and SPO3 to SPO4, eight.

Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Castil Jr., provincial director of Nocppo, said those promoted to SPO4 will be given a chance to be the chief clerk of different police stations while others will return to their respective units.

Castil, in his speech, during the ceremony, reminded the policemen to give importance to their promotions as they continue to render their service to the public.

For his part, Carmelo Orbista, provincial director of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Negros Occidental, urged them to continue providing frontline services to the public as they are mandated by such responsibility.

“We, in the DILG, are working so hard to make this department one of the best departments in the government,” he said, as he encouraged them to do their part.

He also said that while they are strictly monitoring the movement of barangay officials especially those involved in illegal drugs, insurgencies, and violent extremism, they are also monitoring peace and order councils.

Meanwhile, BCPO has two commissioned officers and 72 non-commissioned officers promoted.

Senior Superintendent Francisco Ebreo, acting BCPO director, said one was promoted to Chief Inspector and another was promoted to Inspector. (GYM)