The new chief of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6 (Western Visayas) wants law enforcement operations intensified while ensuring the rule of law and human rights are observed.
“We will intensify our police operations, the arrest of criminals, service of warrants of arrests, service of search warrants, different patrol operations – be it foot or mobile patrol. But in all our operations, we will observe the rule of law and we will observe human rights,” acting PRO-6 Director, Brig. Gen. Sidney N. Villaflor, said Wednesday afternoon, May 24.
Villaflor formally assumed the top post in Western Visayas in a ceremony at the PRO-6 headquarters in Iloilo City, replacing Brig. Gen. Leo M. Francisco, who now heads the Directorate for Operations.
He said his leadership would dwell on the five focused agenda of Philippine National Police Chief, Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr., one of which is the aggressive but honest police operations to regain public trust.
Villaflor said he would review the policy to make sure that they are attuned to the guidance of Camp Crame and the five-focused agenda.
He also said he wants to guarantee that all resources coming from the government would be used, although he has yet to give full details on how to carry out his goals and will only disclose them once he already knows the situation on the ground.
“We will review our resources with respect to personnel, with respect to radio communication, with respect to mobility. We will study what is on the ground, what is our capability versus the situation on the ground,” he added.
Noting the changing security landscape, he said he wants the use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) integrated into their policing because it would help in faster coordination, as well as in responding to and addressing criminality.
He wants to have an inventory of existing ICT infrastructures to determine if they could still be upgraded, and seek the assistance of stakeholders, such as the academe.
His assumption to the office was officiated by the commander of the Area Police Command –Visayas, Lt. Gen. Patrick T. Villacorte.*PNA