BAGUIO CITY October 25 – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan directed the new officer-in-charge of the Baguio city Police Office (BCPO) to continue the implementation of proven peacekeeping, anti-criminality and anti-terrorism programs that contributed in sustaining the decent peace and order situation in the city.
The local chief executive welcomed the designation of Senior Superintendent Eliseo Tanding as the new BCPO officer-in-charge after the eventual relief of Senior Superintendent Ramil L. Saculles as BCPO city director whose 2-year tour of duty recently expired.
Among the priority concerns that should be given attention by the new BCPO official include police visibility in various parts of the city, the unrelenting and uncompromising anti-illegal drug campaign, the strict implementation of various city ordinances, the intensified campaign against the proliferation of petty crimes around the city and the putting in place of schemes that will help in curbing the monstrous traffic congestion in the central business district.
While he is supportive of the designation of the new BCPO officer, Domogan also called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership to already submit to the local government the shortlist of qualified senior police officers who will be screened to ascertain who will be recommended as the next BCPO city director.
Earlier, Domogan returned to the PNP leadership the previous shortlist that was submitted to him that contained the names of the qualified senior police officers who will be screened for possible appointment as the next BCPO city director after two of the police officers in the list declined to undergo the screening process because they were promoted to higher positions or awaiting a new assignments.
“We hope that the shortlist will be made available to us the soonest so that we could already proceed with the screening process that had been put in place in the selection of the next BCPO city director in fairness to those former BCPO officials who underwent the similar process,” Domogan stressed.
He claimed that after receiving the new shortlist from the PNP, the local screening committee will already be convened so that the local government will not use up the 10-day grace period that will be provided for the selection of the next BCPO chief so that he can already start serving his prescribed tour of duty in the city.
According to him, what is important in the case of Tading is the fact that he grew up in a mining community and was able to study in the city that is why he is familiar with the prevailing situation in the city where there will be no need for him to adjust to the situation.
The local screening committee will be composed of various department heads of the local government and representatives from the barangays, media, business sector, religious sector among other concerned stakeholders involved in the maintenance of peace and order in the city.
The applicants for the next BCPO chief will undergo the prescribed interview by the local screening committee aside from the submission of pertinent documents that will show his programs when appointed as the next BCPO chief.**By Dexter A. See
