Governor Edgar Chatto yesterday expressed support for the newly appointed director of the Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO), Sr. Supt. Angeles Geñorga Jr. who officially took over the helm of the local police force on Tuesday.
“We would like also to assure the newly installed PNP acting chief in the province of Bohol, whatever support that we gave to Pipoy [former BPPO chief Sr. Supt. Felipe Natividad] is the same support that we would like to give you, that is the assurance of the provincial government,” Chatto said.
Chatto also assured that local government units across Bohol will also provide backing to the new highest ranking police officer in the province.
“Our mayors will be supporting you, down the line to our provincial officials, barangay leaders and even the purok leaders in the purok network we will be providing support to you,” he added.
For his part, Geñorga vowed to maintain Bohol’s peaceful status by implementing the Police Regional Office 7’s umbrella program, the ABCD or Always Busy Catching Criminals, Drug pushers and users.
Geñorga formally took over as BPPO chief on Tuesday during formal turnover rites at Camp Dagohoy in Tagbilaran City.
The change of command ceremony was officiated by PRO 7 director Chief Supt. Jose Mario Espino.
Chatto and Board Member Ricky Masamayor, chair of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s committee on peace and order, also attended the event.
Geñorga was assigned to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group before being tasked to lead the BPPO.
Meanwhile, Natividad was transferred to Camp Crame to be part of the Civil Security Group.
Natividad started his stint as BPPO chief during the onset of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs in July 2016.
He led the BPPO when government troops fought and hunted down 11 Abu Sayyaf bandits who infiltrated Bohol in mid-April last year.
State forces successfully neutralized the Abu Sayyaf threat by killing each of the stragglers a little over a month after their entry in Inabanga town. (R. Tutas)