CAMP TOLENTINO, Bataan — Six new chiefs of police (COPs) have been installed in this province, following a major overhaul by the Police Provincial Office (PPO) in order to better suit the needs of the newly-elected local chief executives.

Senior Superintendent Arnold D. Gunnacao, PPO director, said the towns with new police chiefs are Morong, Orion, Hermosa, Pilar, Limay, and Samal, all of which have new mayors.

Gunnacao identified the new COPs as Sr. Inspector Christopher Siriban for Morong; Chief Insp. Emerson Dante, Orion; Chief Insp. Jeremias Dayo, Hermosa; Sr. Insp. Emelito dela Cruz, Pilar; Chief  Insp. Ricardo Santiago, Limay town; and Sr. Insp. Erwin Ferry, Samal.

He explained that the change of guard at the local police stations is aimed at developing a good working relationship between the local government unit (LGU) and the local law enforcement organization.

The Provincial Director also said that some of those replaced as COPs have already exceeded the two-year tour of duty normally assigned to police officials at any post.

However, there were some exceptions as in the cases of Superintendents Enrico Vargas, police chief of Dinalupihan; Amor Liber, of Balanga City; and Rommel Velasco, of Mariveles, who had been retained.

Gunnacao said the mayors of the said LGUs had requested that they be retained on account of their outstanding performance as COPs.

Meanwhile, a get-together of police officials was held at the PPO Headquarters in Camp Tolentino Friday.

“We are very thankful due to the peaceful holding of Bataan polls and I want to give credence to my men who worked hand-in-hand to ensure the honest, orderly, and peaceful conduct of the elections,” Gunnacao said.