Senior Supt. Petronelli Baldebrin yesterday assumed the post of director of the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO).
He replaced Senior Supt. Noel Gillamac.
The turnover was attended by Senior Supt. Orlando Ualat, chief of directorial staff of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7), and Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes.
In his speech, Baldebrin, who has 22 years ofexperience in the police force, said he is committed to keeping peace and order in the city.
To achieve this goal, Baldebrin said the police commissioned officers and non-commissioned officers have to support him the way they supported Gillamac.
Mayor Cortes said the task doesn’t solely rely on the police but needs the cooperation of the public.
“We have to be united,” said the mayor.
Cortes said achieving peace and order “is like riding a banca where we have to paddle together to move it forward.”
The mayor also suggested transferring the MCPO headquarters to the reclamation area and convert ing the current building into the Centro police precinct.
Cortes said the current MCPO headquarters has a small building with limited parking space.
He asked Baldebrin to coordinate with Camp Crame in building a new headquarters, adding that the Mandaue City government and business sector are willing to help.
Once the transfer of the MCPO headquarters is realized, jeepney and tricycle routes will be opened in the area to make the police station more accessible to the public. /CORRESPONDENT JUCELL MARIE P. CUYOS