BACOLOD City – The campaign against illegal drugs should be a priority of the new director of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), according to Mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia.
The mayor said this on Monday, the day Senior Superintendent Henry Biñas took over BCPO leadership following the relief order issued against Senior Superintendent Francisco Ebreo.
Ebreo was sacked as BCPO director after President Rodrigo Duterte tagged him in the illegal drug trade as protector during the latter’s speech in a private function at L’Fisher Hotel on Jan. 12.
“Every time there’s a new [police] officer-in-charge, the illegal drugs is always one of those I would I ask them to focus on,” said Leonardia.
He added: “We know that in the entire Philippines that is the problem. We have a President who is passionate about this concern.”
Unit heads and station commanders have already met Biñas on Monday during a staff conference at Patnubay Hall in the BCPO building.
Biñas – who was chief of the Regional Personnel and Human Resource Development Division of the Police Regional Office 6 based in Camp Martin Delgado in Iloilo City before his latest assignment – said on Sunday that although his stint as BCPO chief may only be temporary, he will see what he can improve, especially in the campaign against illegal drugs.
Biñas had also served as director of the Iloilo City Police Office and Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office.
Aside from Ebreo, Duterte also sacked four police officers over alleged links to illegal drug activities in Bacolod. When asked about this, Leonardia refused to comment.
“It’s a police matter which I’m not privy to. I think we should wait for the developments. Let us take it as it is, meaning the President has spoken. The best thing to do is to wait for the next move. We will take it from there,” Leonardia said.
But Leonardia also said he and Rep. Greg Gasataya had attempted to dismiss Ebreo as BCPO chief last year.
The mayor said he no longer had “complete confidence” with Ebreo after learning his political opponents – Councilor Ricardo Tan and Abang Lingkod party-list representative Stephen Paduano – have paid the former city police director visits in 2018./PN
