Cruz turns over command of PNP Eastern Visayas to new chief

Palo, Leyte — More than 20,000 police force personnel in Eastern Visayas will have a new regional director after their incumbent leader, Chief Supt. Gilberto Cruz, formally bowed out from the post he held for nine months on Monday.

Cruz, who assumed his post August 31,2017, will be replaced by Chief Mariel Magaway, the current chief of the intelligence command of the national PNP.

Cruz, who received his relief order on June 1, will be assigned as the assigned as the deputy chief of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations-Eastern Mindanao but based at the main headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

The change of command of PNP-8 leadership is part of a reshuffle among top regional officials initiated by PNP Director General Oscar Albayalde.

Cruz said while he welcomes his new appointment, he will also miss Eastern Visayas.

“Medyo malungkot. Mami-miss mo ang samahan sa kapulisan, yung adventures and journey that we went through together,” he said during an interview after the turnover ceremony.

Under his watch, three of the six provinces of the region were declared as drug-cleared: Southern Leyte, Biliran, and Northern Samar.  Four of its seven cities were also declared as such, namely, Tacloban, Ormoc, Baybay and Maasin.

About 97 percent of the region’s 4, 390 barangays were also declared as drug-free.

Cruz, known to be an environmentalist, led in several operations against illegal logging activities.

Before bowing out from the region, he said he was thinking of finishing the 30-feet image of Crucified Jesus Christ, which he dubbed as “Environmental Jesus,’ located right inside the PNP regional headquarters.

The image is made of scrap materials like confiscated chain saws and firearms, among others.

Cruz hopes the image, made by local artist Lucky Salayog, will symbolize fight against environment destruction.

During the fourth anniversary of destruction of super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ last year, Cruz also initiated in the construction  in Tanauan, Leyte of the image of St. Medard, the patron saint of protection against bad storms.

He also supervised this year’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections, the most peaceful conduct in the region in 20 years.  /vvp