JUST one month before former Mayor Benjamin Lim retakes his seat at city hall, a new officer-in-charge has been assigned to take over the helm of the Dagupan City Police.

But Chief Superintendent Constante Azares Jr., police regional director, quickly doused insinuation that the early change of command in the Dagupan City Police had something to do with politics.

Azares, who installed Superintendent Romeo Caramat as new officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Dagupan Police last week, said this was effected because his predecessor, Superintendent Mariano Luis Verzosa, is due to assume a higher responsibility.

Verzosa, who completed a more than two-year tour of duty as chief of the Dagupan Police, is assuming his new assignment as the new chief of intelligence of the Philippine National Police Regional (PNP) Office at Camp General Oscar Florendo in La Union prior to his promotion to a higher rank.

CARAMAT

On the other hand, incoming police chief Caramat was until recently the intelligence officer of the Pangasinan PNP Provincial Office.

Caramat became controversial when he named certain politicians who allegedly maintain private armies.

Chosen for the position over two other aspirants, Caramat also previously served as chief of police of Bayambang and of Sto. Tomas towns.

Caramat warned that “scalawags have no place in the Dagupan police”.

He admitted being “a little bit nervous” about the big responsibility that goes with his new position, plus the pressure to equal if not to exceed the performances of his predecessor

“I can only promise in return to do my best to this position in order to bring this police station to greater heights,” said Caramat

REASSIGNMENT

There were speculations that Verzosa was ‘shipped out’ of Dagupan because he and incoming Mayor Lim are at odds over the incident in Bolosan two days before the election involving Lim’s son Brian and outgoing city administrator Alvin Fernandez. .

Verzosa said although he is moving on to a different assignment, his “heart still belongs to Dagupan City” where he has so far spent his most challenging job as a police officer and accomplished a lot.

He cited that under his watch, the city police office was able to prevent a big kidnap-for-ransom gang from operating in Dagupan as well as foiling a plan of a robbery syndicate targeting big commercial establishments.

Verzosa also claimed he succeeded in containing prostitution with the help of the Dagupan citizenry, especially women’s groups.

He was instrumental in pursuing the construction of the three-storey police station on A.B. Fernandez Avenue West, considered as the most modern in the province.

Verzosa, a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy and classmate of Police Provincial Director Percival Barba, thanked outgoing Mayor Alipio Fernandez Jr. for giving him a chance to serve as chief of police of Dagupan City.—LM

Back to Homepage

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments