Fourth municipal police chief since January

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) director, Police Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Castil, Jr., yesterday confirmed Police Chief Inspector Joshua Villasis was assigned as Moises Padilla municipal police chief effective last Wednesday.

The appointment marks the fourth police chief for the town in less than three months.

Castil admitted the town has been rapidly changing police officials; however, he declined to point out specific reasons.

On January 15, 2018, former Moises Padilla police chief, Police Senior Inspector Alan Reloj, was relieved of duty following a controversial checkpoint operation involving Moises Padilla Vice Mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo last December.

The checkpoint resulted in the arrest of the vice mayor and her husband, whom Reloj charged with illegal possession of explosives, firearms, and illegal drugs.

Garcia claimed the evidence found in their vehicle was planted.

The suspected shabu recovered from the scene later turned out to be a fake.

Reloj was replaced by Pulupandan police chief, Police Senior Inspector Alfredo de Leon, who served for about a month before being replaced by Police Senior Inspector Renante Salgado.

Salgado went on to serve for 22 days before, according to Castil, he went on sick leave due to a heart ailment./DGB, WDJ