ILOILO – Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. is the new chairperson of the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) in Western Visayas.
President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Defensor to the post.
On Oct. 28, 2019 in Malacañang Defensor will take his oath of office before Duterte.
“We will deliver what is expected of us,” said Defensor.
The governor pledged to help end the insurgency problem and maintain peace and order in the region.
“Councils are made primarily as policy-making bodies and their powers are recommendatory. RPOC is made with the same purpose. It’s just that the focus is on peace,” Defensor said.
Defensor is replacing Gov. Samuel Gumarin of Guimaras as RPOC chief.
Gumarin had been leading the body since 2018.
Also, Defensor was nominated to head the highest regional policy-making body in Western Visayas, the Regional Development Council (RDC).
RDC is the regional counterpart of the National Economic and Development Authority.
It is also the President who appoints the RDC chairperson.
The outgoing RDC chairperson is Antique’s Gov. Rhodora Cadiao. (LHC, Capitol news/PN)
