BY: RANIE Z. JANGAYO

SENIOR Superintendent Gil Lebin will soon be replaced as Iloilo Provincial Police Office director. In fact, Lebin's tour of duty is already over, and he has to vacate his post as soon as the new IPPO head is ready to relieve him in his post. 

Lebin replaced Supt. Renato Gumban, whose performance was below par.

Lebin is being tagged as protector of illegal gambling operations in the province. He denies this tag.

Gumban replaced my good friend Supt. Ric Dela Paz who during his stint as province's top cop raised the level of leadership and professionalism in law enforcement. Dela Paz is presently the Bacolod City police director.

But who will be the personal choice of Iloilo Gov. Art Defensor? According to a source, there are about three police superintendents who showed interest for the post. Supt. Cornelio Salinas, who is still assigned in Mindanao, was included in the list of nominees. Another one is Jun Jamolo.

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Meanwhile, in my casual conversation with a municipal mayor who requested anonymity, if they have their own way, they want a provincial director that can enforce the laws without fear or favor.

"Aside from looking at the qualification, they would go for an officer who can implement our laws no matter who gets hurt. But we have no authority to choose. It's the governor's prerogative," said the mayor.

This corner also learned that the Senior Officers Placement and Promotional Board (SOPPB)in Camp Crame will give a list of five qualified officers for the governor to choose from.

So far, Gov. Art is silent on his IPPO chief choice. If he rejects all names in the list, SOPPB will again send him another set of officers. If he again rejects this, SOPPB may make things easier for both parties. In some instances, the board may ask the governor for a name of his preferred official, to be included in the list. This practice has been done in the past and in other PNP regional offices to avoid a "stalemate" wherein the position remained vacant to the disadvantage of both the PNP and the LGU.

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I hope the names of some qualified officers who have excellent track record in crime solving will be included in the list of recommendees such as Senior Supt. Ruperto Floro Jr. Floro is still serving as Antique Provincial Police Office chief but his tour of duty is already over.  He is now ready to leave Antique. As a good soldier, Floro is always ready and willing to serve and face his another tour of duty.

Under his leadership, Antique's crime rate has been reduced. He was able to maintain the morale and welfare of PNP personnel in Antique. His various trainings here and abroad must have helped him achieve his good record in Antique.

Floro is a genuine Ilonggo. He finished his B.S. and Criminology at the University of Iloilo. He also had productive stint as chief of Iloilo City Mobile Group.

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