NEW W. VISAYAS POLICE DIRECTOR. Brig. Gen. Rene Pamuspusa is the new Western Visayas police director. He formally replaced Brig. Gen. John Bulalacao during a turn-over of command ceremony at Camp Delgado on Thursday afternoon (June 27, 2019). (PNA photo by Gail Momblan)
ILOILO CITY -- The newly-installed regional director of the Police Regional Office in Western Visayas (PRO 6) vowed on Thursday to continue and sustain the strategic direction set forth by his predecessor.
Brig. Gen. Rene Pamuspusan, chief of Philippine National Police Headquarters Service Support Group, officially replaced Brig. Gen. John Bulalacao as PRO 6 regional director.
A turn-over of command ceremony was held at Camp Delgado in this city.
In his speech, Pamuspusan said he will “push for organizational discipline, unit integrity, and individual reform” being the strategic direction of Bulalacao.
“Let this be my first act as the regional director of PRO 6. I am commanding every policeman in Region 6 to continue and sustain the strategic direction set forth by my predecessor, our regional director, Brig. Gen. John Bulalacao,” he said.
Pamuspusan said it is also his job to ensure the programs from the national level will be implemented to the fullest in Western Visayas.
These include internal cleansing in the police force, an intensified campaign against criminalities specifically on illegal drugs, meritocracy programs, transparency in procurement and fund management, and the campaign on police and community relations.
Pamuspusan also directed the provincial directors and chiefs of police to continue its effort to fight terrorism.
“We must be marching in unison with our counterparts in the Armed Forces of the Philippines to fight terrorism to end insurgency,” he said, noting Bulalacao’s achievements in the region.
Meanwhile, after serving the police force for 35 years, Bulalacao said he will be leaving the organization proud, blessed, and fulfilled.
“I maintained a good name, it made me proud. I valued those who helped me, it made me blessed. I carried out my duties having in mind what is good for the community, it made me fulfilled,” Bulalacao said in his speech.
Bulalacao’s notable accomplishments in the region are the improved crime environment, achievements in the fight against illegal drugs, proactive anti-insurgency efforts, internal discipline, peaceful midterm elections, among others.
Under Bulalacao’s stint, the PRO6 has a total of 1,664 anti-illegal drugs operations with 2,337 personalities arrested and filed 654 cases in court from June 1, 2018 to May 31, 2019.
From June 1, 2018 to present, the PRO6 was able to arrest 16 high-ranking Communist New People’s Army Terrorists (CNTs).
The leadership of Bulalacao has also resulted in generally peaceful mid-term elections. Overall, 28 persons were arrested and charged with vote-buying in the region.
Bulalacao reiterated that his achievements were due to the support and trust of the public.
He thanked the police and non-uniformed personnel, local government units, the media, and the community for the support given to him in his one-year stint as regional director.
Bulalacao said he does not have immediate plans to be employed in private or government agencies after his retirement. Instead, he said he will spend more time with his family.
“It’s a privilege to embark on a long journey and be able to finish strong,” he said. (PNA)
