Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Benjamin Acorda, Jr. has ordered a sustained campaign against illegal drugs in Western Visayas under the leadership of newly installed Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) acting regional director Brigadier General Jack Wanky.

Acorda presided over the turnover of command from Brigadier General Sidney Villaflor to Wanky at Camp Martin Delgado in Iloilo City on Monday, February 19.

Villaflor was promoted to two-star general to head the Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development at the national headquarters effective February 14.

“There will be no let-up in our campaign against illegal drugs,” Acorda said in an interview after the ceremony on Monday night.

Villaflor reported 1,630 operations during his stint, resulting in the apprehension of 2,137 suspects and confiscation of 57,470.0245 grams of shabu and 269.768 grams of marijuana valued at P390 million.

Wanky expressed gratitude for his return to Western Visayas, where he honed the early years of his PNP career and started a family.

“I know that I may be filling a big shoe given the numerous accomplishments he [Villaflor] has done in his stint. I know the task that lies ahead will be no easy feat for me, but with you, the men and women of PRO-6, the different stakeholders and especially the people in Western Visayas, with your utmost support and cooperation, I firmly believe that we can continue the momentum that my predecessor has started, or perhaps even surpass his accomplishments,” he said.

Wanky said he will be working on the continuity of existing programs and his leadership will anchor on the core values of the PNP in ensuring the accomplishment of the five-focus agenda of Acorda.

The five-focus agenda includes aggressive and honest law enforcement operations, information and communications technology development, integrity enhancement, increased community engagement, and personnel morale and welfare. (PNA)