MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/12 February) – The Philippine National Police-10 regional office has named the new police chief for this city to replace Supt. Erwin Bayani Meneses, who is said to have completed his tour of duty.
Supt. Canilo Fuentes, deputy police director for administration, said the regional office named Supt. Oscar P. Jacildo, the incumbent deputy director for operations of the Bukidnon Police Provincial Office (BPPO), as the new chief of police. Jacildo is a member of the Philippine National Police Academy Batch 1995.
Jacildo was the choice of Mayor Ignacio W. Zubiri from the five recommended by the PNP-10, which the latter confirmed to MindaNews in a text message Sunday afternoon.
Zubiri said the turnover of command will be held Monday.
Fuentes cited that Zubiri earlier declined to accept the name floated by the regional police office, which reportedly caused a stir. He said the PNP-10’s initial choice was Supt. Michael John Deloso, who is presently with the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO).
According to Republic Act 8551 or the Philippine National Police Act, it is the Regional Officers’ Placement Board who recommends a list of five candidates for the choice of police chief.
But it is the local chief executive who will pick his choice from the ROPB’s candidates.
On February 6, Supt. Rustom Duran, Bukidnon police director, upon order of Chief Supt. Gen. Jufel C. Adriatico, PNP-10 chief, issued an order naming Deloso.
But Duran said the police hierarchy issued another order on February 10 changing the prior order and naming Jacildo.
Fuentes said Zubiri threatened to pull out support of the local government to the Malaybalay City Police Office if Deloso got the position.
Deloso eventually gave way, Fuentes said Friday afternoon.
But Fuentes did not elaborate on why the regional police office initially opted for Deloso when he was not the local chief executive’s choice.
The change in command in the local police chief comes in time with the start of the month-long Kaamulan Festival, which is held annually in the city of Malaybalay. (Walter I. Balane / MindaNews)