Marikina City has new police chief

MANILA, Philippines - Marikina City has a new police chief in the person of Senior Superintendent Romeo Magsalos.

Magsalos, a product of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Class ’87 replaced Superintendent Sotero Ramos Jr., during a simple turnover ceremony Monday at the local police headquarters attended by Mayor Maria Lourdes Fernando, Eastern Police District director Chief Superintendent Lino Calingasan and other local government officials.

Magsalos was formerly the chief-of-staff of the Programs Management Office in Camp Crame.

Several Marikina City policemen broke into tears after Ramos, who stayed in his post for two years and seven months, delivered his farewell speech.

Ramos thanked the rank-and-file of the local police for their utmost support during his term as he urged them to give the same to the new city police chief.

Calingasan commended Ramos for the many awards he has brought the Marikina City police. “Marikina City police should already be in the Hall of Fame after bagging several awards for the past three years, said Calingasan.

The Marikina City police was adjudged as the Best City Police Station of the PNP and the National Capital Regional Police Office for the year 2007 and 2008.

Since Ramos assumed his post on July 2006, the Marikina City police won all the quarterly race for the Best Police Station of the EPD which Fernando said brought honors and pride to the city. “It is really time for Col. Ramos to move on and his ‘shoes’ is not that big for Col. Magsalos to fill. We only wish that the prevailing peace and order situation in Marikina will continue in order for our city to invite more investors,” Fernando said.

The city mayor boasted that there were no major crimes like bank robbery during Ramos’ term, an indication of the good relationship of the local government and police in effective efforts to safeguard peace and order.

Ramos is temporarily assigned at the office of Calingasan while preparing for his coming training at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the United States, a result of his being a consistent awardee as City Best Police Station.