Cebu, Negros Oriental have new police directors

CEBU CITY–The Philippine National Police (PNP) has appointed new directors for  Cebu and Negros Oriental.

Senior Supt. Manuel Abrugena was named the new head of the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CCPO), while Senior Supt. Raul Tacaca, for the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office.

Abrugena and Tacaca replaced Senior Supt. Edgar Alan Okubo and Senior Supt. Edwin Portento, who were set to be given new assignments from their posts in Cebu and Negros Oriental.

The revamp took effect last Tuesday (May 8).

Chief Supt. Robert Quenery, director of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7), said the move was part of the nationwide reshuffle of provincial and city police directors after Director General Oscar Albayalde assumed as PNP chief  last month.

“It’s not only Central Visayas but also other regions which were affected by the revamp. It was the decision of the PNP Oversight Committee,” Quenery said in a news conference in an interview in his  office on Wednesday.

“These two police directors (Okubo and Portento) were fine but maybe the Oversight Committee has other standards,” he added.

Albayalde earlier said he would first form an oversight committee to review the organizational composition of the PNP and evaluate whether key officials should be transferred or not.

Since the revamp happened barely a week before the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on May 14, Quenery advised the new provincial police directors to study and analyze the prevailing situation in their respective areas.

“They have three days to internalize and make the necessary adjustments. I’m excited to meet them,” he said./lb