ONE hundred fifty-eight policemen in Negros Island Region (NIR) were promoted to higher ranks in rites held at Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) headquarters in Bacolod City on Monday.
Of the 158 policemen, 56 were police commissioned officers (PCOs) and 102 were police non-commissioned officers (PNCOs) from the Special Action Forces (SAF).
Chief Superintendent Conrado Capa, regional director of Police Regional Office-NIR, led the oath-taking and donning of ranks of the 56 PCOs.
Of the 56 PCOs promoted, a police official with a rank of Chief Inspector assigned at Nocppo was promoted to Superintendent; 15 PCOs were promoted to Chief Inspector; 39 Inspectors were promoted to Senior Inspector; and one with a rank of Senior Police Officer IV was promoted to Inspector.
Before the donning of ranks, the PRO-18 distributed 30 units of patrol cars to various police offices.
Of the 30 vehicles from Camp Crame, 27 Mahindra Scorpio light transport vehicles and three enforcer patrol cars were given to the units of the regional office and the Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB). The 81 motorcycles will be distributed soon.
Provincial Legal Officer Jose Maria Valencia attended the event in behalf of Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Maranon Jr.
Meanwhile, the PRO-18’s culmination of the 21st Police Community Relations Month gave recognition to Nocppo which was awarded as outstanding police provincial office; San Carlos City Police Station, outstanding city police station; and Murcia Police Station, best municipal police station.
Also awarded were Chief Inspector Ma. Aurora Rayos of Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (Norppo) and Senior Inspector Roberto Indiape, officer-in-charge of Hinobaan Municipal Police Station, as outstanding senior PCO and junior PCO, respectively.
For PNCO level, Senior Police Officer 2 Antonietta Loraez of Victorias City Police Station and Police Officer 3 Joffrey Cabiton of Talisay City Police Station received the outstanding senior PNCO and junior PNCO recognition, respectively.
Chief Inspector Dianne Grace Cathedral of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) was awarded outstanding PCO in Public Information and SPO1 Edilberto Euraoba III of Norppo as outstanding PNCO for the same field.
For Most Supportive LGUs, awards were given Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., San Carlos City Mayor Gerardo Valmayor Jr., Murcia Mayor Andrew Montelibano and Pulupandan Mayor Miguel Peña.