By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Newly appointed Police Regional Office-18 (PRO-18) Director Police Chief Supt. Edmund Gonzales said they will remain operational despite the fate of the Negros Island Region (NIR) still hanging in the balance.
Gonzales said Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police Director Gen. Ronald ‘Bato’ Dela Rosa has not made announcements about the status of the NIR.
“Since Region 18 is here, then there should also be a PRO-18,” Gonzales said.
He also stated whatever the fate the region will encounter in the future, they will follow the orders of their higher ups from their national headquarters in Camp Crame.
Earlier last year, budget secretary Benjamin Diokno drafted an executive order for President Rodrigo R. Duterte to sign seeking to abolish Executive Order No. 183, which created the NIR during the term of former President Benigno S. Aquino III.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Visayan Bloc, and local politicians continue to campaign for the region’s retention./WDJ