By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr welcomed the appointment of Police Chief Superintendent Edmund Gonzales as Police Regional Office-18 (PRO-18) director and reminded him to “do well.”
In a press conference yesterday morning, Marañon said he was not able to attend the turnover ceremony due to other work engagements but the officer paid the governor a brief courtesy call at the Provincial Capitol last Friday.
Marañon revealed, during their short conversation, he told Gonzales to concentrate on the campaign against illegal drugs in the Negros Island Region (NIR).
He also lauded the decision of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to appoint an Ilonggo cop for the region, which he believes will have a positive effect on the residents of the region.
Gonzales earlier promised fairness in the investigations of cops allegedly linked to illegal activities. As a confidence-building measure, he added he would not reassign them to other regions unless strong evidence is presented against them.
When asked if there is a possibility former Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) Director, Police Senior Superintendent William Señoron, could return to the province, Marañon explained, the former director could no longer serve as provincial police director he already reached the required two-year term at NOPPO.
However, the governor added, Señoron could only return if he were promoted to a higher rank.
Gonzales formally took his new post last Friday, replacing Police Chief Superintendent Renato Gumban, who retired after almost 37 years in the police service./WDJ