Former PRO-7 chief retires

AFTER 37 years of service, 28 of which were spent in Central Visayas, Deputy Director Gen. Lani-O Nerez retired from police service with full honors last Friday.

A former director of the Cebu City police and the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7), Nerez said he submitted his resumé to one of the agencies who asked for his services.

Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador Jr., chief of the Cebu Provincial Police Office,  said Nerez will be missed by policemen especially those from the lower ranks.

Nerez is a native of Laoag City in Ilocos Norte. His wife, Elllen Casquejo, is a Cebuana doctor and native of Toledo City. His last assignment was as director for PRO-7’s Research and Development.

“I am a true Cebuano by heart,” Nerez said. Nerez is part of class ’78, two years ahead of incumbent PNP chief Nicanor Bartolome. His batch in PMA adopted former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

He had his first assignment in Sulu, Mindanao, and moved to Central Visayas in 1980 as commanding officer of 347th Philippine Constabulary (PC) in Toledo City and he was responsible for the capture of Fabian Entero, an alleged leader of the New People Army (NPA).

He was then assigned in the 342nd PC Company in Bogo City, and subsequently transferred to the Regional Mobile Group (RMG), Bohol, and Cebu City on 2003.

On 2006, Nerez spearheaded preparations a year ahead of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Cebu. He was also responsible for the creation of Task Force Motorsiklo. /CORRESPONDENT CHITO O. ARAGON