2 officers eyeing top WPD post

Two top commanders of the Western Police District are jockeying for the post to be left vacant by Chief Superintendent Nicolas Pasinos, the district commander who was sacked by the National Police Commission over alleged failure to curb illegal gambling in Manila.

Sources at the WPD said Pasinos’ relief as WPD director will most likely result in a toss-up between Senior Superintendent Pedro Bulaong and Senior Superintendent Marcelino Franco as the likely replacement.

Franco is the WPD deputy director for administration while Bulaong is the district’s director for operations. Bulaong also serves as the deputy director of operations of the Presidential Security Group (PSG).

A member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1974, Franco was "chosen" by Pasinos to be his most likely successor to the post. Franco is rumored to be the personal choice of Manila Mayor Lito Atienza for the WPD directorship.

However, though both candidates maybe qualified for the post, the battle may as well end up in who has the most supporters. This, after the 3,000-strong Manila’s Finest Brotherhood Association Inc., the organization of non-commissioned police officers of the WPD, strongly expressed their support for Bulaong.

According to the MFBAI, Bulaong is the most effective candidate, being an officer who rose from the ranks and a long-time Manila policeman.

Officials of the MFBAI said they formalized their support for Bulaong with a position paper addressed to Atienza.

Under the rules, the National Capital Regional Police Office will submit to the Manila mayor, a list of five candidates for the post. The mayor in turn will select one from the list. – Mike Frialde