Davao native is new Iloilo police director

BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO and IME SORNITO

ILOILO – The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) has a new director. Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. chose Police Colonel Roland Vilela to replace Police Colonel Marlon Tayaba.

Vilela, head of the Police Regional Office 2’s Comptroller Division, is a graduate of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), Class 1997.

Vilela, a resident of Davao, was one of the three recommendees to head the IPPO. The two others were Police Colonel Juel Neil Salcedo (former security of President Rodrigo Duterte) and Police Colonel Policarpio Cayabyab Jr. (director of the Maritime Command Western Visayas.

Vilela was once adjudged as one of the 10 outstanding policemen in the country in 2015.

Tayaba is leaving the IPPO after serving it for more than two years.

“We received the reply of Governor Defensor choosing Colonel Vilela as next IPPO director. We have to send the name of Colonel. Vilela to the national office for the issuance of the order,” said Malong.

Defensor said Vilela should sustain the IPPO’s campaign against illegal drugs and maintain the province’s peace.

“I will also explore ways to maximize our relations with the police on how we will curb illegal fishing, especially in the 5th District,” added Defensor.

Northern Iloilo is an illegal fishing hotspot, according to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR). Most of the violations were the use of active gears and encroachment of municipal waters by commercial fishing vessels.

Between 2016 to 2018, BFAR Region 6 filed 470 complaints against illegal fishing vessel operators, said Assistant Regional Director Carlito Delfin. Four hundred were already resolved.

The municipal waters of northern Iloilo towns – Carles, Balasan, Estancia, Batad, San Dionisio, Concepcion, Ajuy, Barotac Viejo, and Banate – are part of the marine resource-rich Visayan Sea./PN