Cops pulled out, NegOr replacement arrives for NIR transition

DUMAGUETE CITY – Hundreds of police personnel are being pulled out from Negros Oriental, with many more being sent here as replacements as the transition to the newly-created Negros Island Region (NIR) takes place.

Lt. Stephen Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO), said in an interview that records showed 240 police personnel are recalled to the Police Regional Office 7 (PRO-7) in Cebu City.

Meanwhile, the PRO-7 also sent 140 police personnel to Negros Oriental on July 29 to fill in the vacated posts.

"Some of those recalled left starting last week, while others are still at their current assigned police stations in Negros Oriental until their replacement arrives as part of the restructuring of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Central Visayas and the NIR," Polinar said.

The pullout is gradual, as Polinar assured that there will be no vacuum during NOPPO's transition from being under PRO-7 to PRO-NIR.

Polinar said many of those relieved are police personnel from Bohol and other parts of Central Visayas who were deployed to Negros Oriental, especially in the 3rd district, following the assassination of Governor Roel Degamo last year.

The move was to ensure that the investigation into the Degamo murder, where nine other people were killed in a daytime attack in the governor's Pamplona residence, would proceed unhampered.

This came after reports received by the national government showed that police personnel were allegedly linked with crimes perpetrated by the suspects, who were mostly from the 3rd district, including the alleged mastermind, ousted former rep. Arnulfo Teves, Jr., who is currently in Timor-Leste pending extradition.

Polinar said police personnel from Bohol or other provinces outside of Negros Oriental are given the option to remain, as some have already established roots here. (PNA)