A few more days and he would have rendered three years in Bohol, but before that could happen, Bohol police chief police senior superintendent Dennis Agustin bows out and earns praises and accolades from Bohol’s top officials including businessmen, after a long stint of a campaign that had drug personalities in the industry shaken and stirred.

PS/Supt. Dennis Agustin, a fine officer and a gentleman gets relieved of his Bohol stint, a year over the regulation, to ascend by virtue of a promotion, to one of the directorate seats at the regional police by headquarters, on to his possible first star rank.

Coming in to fill his place is Police Senior Superintendent Felipe Natividad, an unassuming officer whose stint at the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG) is marked but not from media limelight.

Like Agustin who hails from Luzon, Colonel Natividad is reportedly from Nueva Ecija and considers Agustin his upper classman at the Philippine Military Academy.

At the turn-over ceremonies held at Camp Dagohoy, July14, 2016, Police Regional Officers PRO in Region 7 (PRO-7) led by Police Regional Director Noli Talino officiated the turn-over of command but not before pinning on Agustin the PNP Medalya ng Kasanayan exceptional and eminently meritorious and invaluable service to merit recognition.

Governor Edgar Chatto, the army infantry brigade and Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry also handed special plaques for Agustin whose local police leadership contributed much to Bohol’s progress and development.

Before Col. Agustin came to Bohol, Governor Chatto, who had a say in picking the next police provincial director, reportedly told Camp Crame officials he wanted an officer that had no family ties in Bohol.

He bared this, considering that fighting against drugs would be hampered with police officers possibly fighting against blood relations, he shared later at the testimonial dinner and welcome party for the police officials.

Agustin, was reportedly among the applicants for the vacant position, came out strong, and did not have fancy recommendations, despite what the governor calls as exemplary qualifications.

As Agustin came, the fight against illegal gambling, which was the top order under then PRO7 Chief General Marcelo Garbo, shifted to anti-illegal drugs.

As soon as he got the reins, Col. Agustin pressed on the heat, until the campaign blew to widespread proportions with the ambush of Police Inspector George Cana and the shooting to death of intelligence operatives in Sitio Ubos, Poblacion in Tagbilaran.

Apart from brisk anti-drugs operation, Col. Agustin was also credited for the critical police disaster relief operations during the 2013 earthquake.

Governor Chatto also credits the bowing out official to the formation of joint task force Dagon, which strategically multiplied the efficiency of peace and order and internal security operations, while empowering communities in disaster risk reduction and environment protection.

Col Agustin tops his service record with highly successful Oplan Toktok-Hangyo, which allowed 28,000 Boholano drug personalities to man up and surrender to authorities for reforms.

In his message at the latest Provincial Peace and Order Council meeting, Chatto himself admitted that whoever comes in to fill up the post vacated by Col Agustin would have a “huge shoe to fill.”

But Police Regional Chief, PCSuperintendent Noli Talino, during the turn-over of Command in fitting rites at the Camp Dagohoy Thursday, assured the new acting chief works as effectively and PSSupt Agustin.

Coming to Bohol from an assignment at the Criminal Investigation Detection Group, Col. Natividad in his acceptance message said he feels blessed and humbled by the assignment.

He also promised to the Boholanos represented by majority of the mayors in Bohol and representatives of the business sector that he would continue on and hopefully surpass his predecessor.

“Indeed, Col Agustin has done so much,” Col. Natividad admitted, but went on to say that “he has made my job a lot easier.”

Amidst insinuations that the police organization has something to do with the alleged summary executions of drug suspects, the new police chief in Bohol assures that he would do everything as the mandate of the PNP allows.

The PNP mandate is to serve and protect. (rac/PIA-7/Bohol)