BACOLOD CITY – The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) has a new director in Police Col. Noel Aliño who assumed the position in an acting capacity on Tuesday, April 18. Aliño, who is a native of Isabela, replaced Police Col. Thomas Joseph Martir, a native of Bacolod, who will retire from the police service on May 14.
MAYOR Alfredo Abelardo ‘Albee’ Benitez talks with Police Col. Noel Aliño, newly designated acting director of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), after the turnover of command ceremony at the BCPO headquarters in Bacolod City on Tuesday, April 18. (Glazyl Masculino)
Aliño’s assumption of an active role in the BCPO came a day after Mayor Alfredo Abelardo ''Albee'' Benitez challenged the police organization to do better against criminalities here following the third case of mutilated human body part dumped in Barangay Bata here on Monday, April 17. These cases were considered by the mayor to be alarming already. Police Col. Arnold Thomas Ibay, deputy regional director for operations of Police Regional Office (PRO)-Western Visayas, presided the turnover ceremony at the BCPO headquarters on Tuesday, April 18, in the presence of Benitez and Councilor Pao Sy, head of the Committee on Fire, Social Defense, and Natural Disasters and Public Works. Benitez said that Aliño was among the five candidates included in the selection for a new BCPO director. He, however, said that Aliño’s designation here was not a personal choice, but an objective choice. “We decided based on performance and track record. It may be contrary to other people, but of the people I’ve asked, he had many endorsements,” Benitez said. Benitez said that the best way to move forward is to be able to find the right person to do the job. “Hopefully, I think you (Aliño) are the right person to do the job. We are expecting great results,” he added. Benitez is hoping that the BCPO under Aliño’s supervision will hasten the investigation of unsolved cases and will intensify police visibility. “We will give him time to prove himself. We will see. Our standard is that it has to be bigger than average,” the mayor added. He is also hoping that cases of mutilated human body parts will stop. “It seems like we’re being taunted. It’s not normal. Why would you do that? Unless you have no fear,” he said. Benitez challenged Aliño to adhere to the highest excellence, saying it is what the people demand. “It’s not good enough to be performing, it has to be beyond the performance that people expect,” the mayor said. Benitez said that there will be lots of expectations and problems especially in a highly-urbanized city, and there’s a lot of work to be done. He assured that they will be strong partners, as the city will be behind the city police force to ensure that they will have enough resources and logistics to deliver their service to the people. Benitez, in his message, thanked Martir for the service he rendered to the city. For his part, Aliño vowed to intensify police presence as part of the crime prevention measures here. Aliño reiterated the need to strengthen visibility patrol for the safety of the public. He said that as much as possible, policemen should be in the streets, and not at their offices. Aliño is appealing for the public's cooperation to help the police in their anti-criminality campaign. He also said that he will continue the programs of Martir that brought improvement to the city. Prior to his assignment here, Aliño was the director of Iloilo Provincial Police Office (IPPO). Meanwhile, Martir served the city police force for one year and six months. He thanked the local government, all public officials, and BCPO personnel, as well as the Bacolodnons for their support and cooperation during his stint. Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya and Abang-Lingkod partylist Rep. Stephen Paduano were also present.