FORMER Zamboanga City Police Office Director Colonel Thomas Joseph Martir replaced Colonel Manuel Placido as Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) Director effective Friday, October 1, 2021.

Placido told SunStar Bacolod that he received the copy of the order from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Camp Crame Thursday, September 30.

He will be reassigned to the Philippine National Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit.

Martir, who is Placido’s classmate at the PNP Academy batch 1995, is a native of Bacolod City and used to be assigned to the Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG).

Martir took over Placido’s post in a turnover of command ceremony at the BCPO headquarters Friday led by Police Regional Office (PRO)-Western Visayas Director Police Brigadier General Rolando Miranda.

Miranda earlier said he can recommend the relief of Placido to the national office of the PNP following the recent series of killing incidents in Bacolod City.

Miranda reprimanded Placido, claiming that the latter was “helpless” in preventing the killings and for “failure” to solve such cases.

“I’d like to stay here, but it’s part of our job to be reassigned to different places,” Placido, who earlier requested a transfer for his promotion, said.

During his stint as city police director, Placido improved the grounds of BCPO headquarters, including the construction of the highest flag pole in Bacolod City.

Placido expressed gratitude to all BCPO personnel and Bacolodnons while he apologized for the unsolved crime incidents in the city.

For his part, Martir said he will do his best to maintain the peace and order in the city.

Martir used to be the commander of Police Stations 2 and 4 in Bacolod City.

He added that he will hold a meeting with all the station commanders for the possible reshuffling of officials.