ILOILO – The incoming director of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) won’t let his colorful past get in the way of his future and that of this province.
“We are not looking back. As a progressive person, papunta tayo sa hinaharap,” Police Colonel Roland Vilela told journalists after his courtesy visit to Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. yesterday at the provincial capitol.
Defensor chose Vilela to succeed Police Colonel Marlon Tayaba who had been reassigned to the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6).
Vilela was dragged in two controversies while assigned in Davao City in 2005 – an alleged rape of a minor commercial sex worker and a sex video.
He addressed the issues squarely yesterday.
“Kinasuhan ako,” he said, but the complaint did not prosper and the prosecutor dismissed it for lack of basis. “In fact I have here the resolution ng fiscal.”
Vilela expressed the hope that the Ilonggos won’t judge him based on his past. He was young then, he said.
“Kasi kabataan…pinagsisisihan ko na ‘yon. It cost me my family,” said Vilela without elaborating. “Siguro naman you will respect my private matters.”
Vilela’s estranged wife is the current general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Royina Garma, a police officer like him.
He vowed to focus on his new assigned and said this would be the first and last time he would address the issues about his past.
Vilela’s two-year tour of duty in Iloilo would start on Sept. 1 yet but he decided to pay Defensor an early visit.
“Nagpasalamant lang din (for the appointment),” said Vilela. “Ngayon lang kami nagkita,” he added.
Vilela currently heads the Comptroller Division of the Police Regional Office 2 (Cagayan Valley). He is also the national alumni president of the 1997 Kapanalig Class of the Philippine National Police Academy.
In preparation for his IPPO directorship, Vilela said he is currently taking a course in Camp Crame, the headquarters of the Philippine National Police in Quezon City. He said he would focus on the campaign against illegal drugs and other illegal activities such as illegal fishing.
He also vowed to help the province and its local government units enforce local ordinances and neutralize the local communist insurgency.
“I am looking forward to new challenges with the ardent support of the people,” said Vilela./PN
