NEGROS Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. will choose today, April 21, the next police provincial director in the shortlist of candidates for the police post.
The new chief of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Noppo) will succeed Senior Superintendent Milko Lirazan, who retired from the service last April 18 upon reaching 56, the mandatory age of retirement for police officers.
Superintendent Jerry Bartolome, the deputy director of the police provincial office, temporarily took charge of the post pending the appointment of next Noppo chief.
Governor Marañon said he already received the list of the candidates for top police post in the province and insisted that he will definitely pick the one who is a Negrense.
Those recommended for the position included Senior Superintendents Roderick Augustu Alba, Leo Irwin Agpangan, Ren Darroca, Marlon Ganzon, and Julius Lagiwid.
Senior Superintendent Lirazan served the police force for 34 years and led the Noppo for almost two years.
He was honored by the Police Regional Office-Western Visayas led by Chief Superintendent Josephus Angan at Camp Martin Delgado in Iloilo City last Friday, for rendering exemplary service to the people of Western Visayas. The Provincial Board also issued a resolution commending Lirazan's leadership in the province.
Meanwhile, Bartolome reminded the city and municipal police chiefs in Negros Occidental to continue implementing the programs of the Police Provincial Office in last Monday's command conference. He wants the crime rate in the province to be further decreased.