ILOILO – Following his selection of Police Colonel Bayani Razalan as full-fledged director of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO), Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. has directed the focus towards the continued proliferation of illegal drugs and addressing contemporary issues.
“The recent rise in drug captures indicates that narcotics continue to penetrate our province, showing the urgent need to close all entry points for these illegal substances,” Defensor explained.
In addition to drug enforcement, Defensor wants the new IPPO director to prioritize contemporary problems such as violations of retail trade and immigration laws, with particular attention to issues surrounding Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO).
“We need to do some house cleaning to avoid these problems,” Defensor said, indicating a broader strategy for addressing various forms of criminality.
From April 19 to July 28, under Razalan’s leadership as officer in charge, the IPPO confiscated P26.7 million worth of illegal drugs and apprehended 147 drug personalities through 117 anti-illegal drug operations.
Additionally, the IPPO successfully captured 345 wansted persons in 343 manhunt operations, detained 261 individuals, and seized 132 fishing boats in anti-illegal fishing efforts.
The police also arrested 116 individuals across 108 operations against illegal quarrying and confiscated P41,000 from 70 individuals in illegal gambling raids.
On July 31, Defensor submitted Razalan’s name to Brigadier General Jack Wanky, the director of Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6, endorsing him as a full-fledged IPPO director.
Razalan, who has been serving as the officer-in-charge of the IPPO since April 19 after replacing Colonel Ronaldo Palomo, was favored by the governor for his exceptional performance and qualifications over the other candidates.
The governor also considered two other nominees for the position — Colonel Giovanni Musico, current head of PRO-6’s Regional Intelligence Division (RID), and Colonel Ferdinand Navales from the PRO-6’s Regional Headquarters Support Group (RHSG).
However, Razalan’s extensive work experience, positive feedback from peers, and his handling of current issues played a crucial role in his selection.
Defensor stressed the importance of the candidates’ resumés, previous positions, and their relevance to the current challenges faced by the Philippines./PN
