BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia Monday, April 17, confirmed that Senior Superintendent Jack Wanky, officer-in-charge of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), is included in the list of nominees for the next city police director.
Leonardia said two weeks ago, he received the list of five nominees including Wanky, from Chief Superintendent Renato Gumban, director of Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region.
He said the four other nominees, whom he refused to name, are not from Bacolod City or Negros Occidental.
Leonardia added that he has not decided yet who to choose.
The mayor admitted there was an attempt from Gumban to push for the retention of Wanky as a permanent city police chief.
“I held off my decision because I want to see that the anti-drug abuse campaign should be improved. We know that when the ‘Oplan Tokhang’ had started, all barangays in Bacolod are considered drug affected and I would like that to change,” Leonardia said.
He said that he already informed Wanky that he is very serious to solve the drug problem.
“Policemen are also doing their jobs, but Wanky should prove himself furthermore. I want him to seriously, effectively, and efficiently improve this situation. I want to see a concrete performance,” the mayor added.