Samar Prov'l Police director replaced

PALO, LEYTE , Philippines  – Samar Governor Sheree Ann Tan-Delos Santos has finally picked-up the name of Senior Supt. Ronald Macapagal to replace Samar Police provincial director Sr. Supt. Tomasito Clet who was already ordered to vacate his position early this week.

Senior Supt. Eusebio Mejos, chief of the Human Resource Development and Personnel Division of the Police Regional Office-8, said the Senior Officers Placement and Promotion Board at the PNP National Headquarters was already informed of the governor’s choice of Macapagal as replacement of Clet.

It is now expected that the board will order soon the conduct of a formal turnover of command between these two officials at the Samar Provincial Police Office.

Reports had it that it was Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento (1st district, Samar) who sought the help from PNP Chief Director General Raul Bacalzo for the immediate relief of Clet.

Sarmiento had reportedly complained of alleged partiality in law enforcement specifically under his area of jurisdiction, but Clet had quickly dismissed this accusation saying he has been working without any vested interest.

The congressman and Mayor Antonieto Cabueños of Gandara town had lamented that the 1st district of Samar has been a dangerous place due to a series of killings allegedly perpetrated by private armed groups (PAGs).

It was only on December 2010 when Clet assumed his post as Samar PNP provincial director.

PRO-8 director Chief Supt. Arnold Revilla however admitted that he sometimes feels that police officials in Samar have been affected by squabbles among politicians in this province, and accused of taking political sides every time a police operation is undertaken here.

Macapagal, for his part, assured the people of Samar that his leadership would be fair and he would not take side to any politician, and work instead to protect the public.

"I will be there to serve the public, not to any one politician. I just need public support and cooperation for peace and prosperity of the entire province of Samar. We will work hand-in-hand. Wala naman ako interest sa gulo ng politiko dyan; ang akin lang trabaho sa tamang paraan," he said.

Macapagal is a graduate of PNPA class 1989. He was assigned at the PNP National Headquarters in Camp Crame before he was assigned to PRO-8.