It was worth the long wait!

By Eva C. Visperas

It was a great birthday gift he received but above all, it was a dream come true for Chief Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil who finally got the much-coveted post as Philippine National Police’s Ilocos Regional Director.  Bataoil, now 53 having turned a year older last October 22, received his order the following day to assume his new post as regional director of region 1, the post he had been dreaming of. (He vacated his post as police director of Northern Police District (NPD) covering Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela under the National Capital Region Police Office).

Speaking to Pangasinan newsmen several hours before he assumed his new assignment effective October 24, Bataoil, a native of Barangay Libsong in Lingayen town in Pangasinan, said,” It’s an honor for me to serve as regional director of my home region”.

Bataoil said “it’s worth the (long) wait”.

He said the order, marked by incessant guessing game prior as to who among the leading aspirants would finally wrestle the post, “was one case in point…storming heaven with prayers”.

He recalled that news spread in the first week of September that his chance of getting the post was very slim. This appeared true when C/Supt. Alfredo de Vera Jr. retired as Ilocos regional director last Sept. 19, 2006, and Senior Supt. Nicanor Casaclang, deputy regional director for administration, was appointed officer-in-charge instead of him.

Then, there were speculations that another strong contender, Chief Supt. Nicasio Radovan, police director of Quezon City Police District, would likely get the post.

But Bataoil, who served three Philippine National Police (PNP) chiefs, namely:  retired Director Generals Hermogenes Ebdane Jr, Edgar Aglipay and Arturo Lomibao, as PNP spokesman, did not lose hope and instead focused on his job.

“Nothing is really impossible with prayers,” he said.

He believes it is all part of   “God’s greater plan” adding that wherever it took him, he always looked back with gratitude, particularly those who had supported him.

He pledged to rally his men to maintain the high standard of police service in the region set forth by his predecessors and impress upon the people in the region that the police is reliable and dependable in solving low and high profile crimes.

Known as a hands-on leader, he said would not change his ways and would continue to do in the region what he started in NPD.

He wants his policemen to be one step ahead of the criminal elements and enhance police visibility, enhance pro-active policing system, and will seek the support of all especially from the community he had served as the provincial director of Pangasinan in 2000.

Thank you sir for sharing few minutes of your precious time last October 23. (He looked so tired yet he found time to sit down with our group for a tea and a little chat).

With you around, we know the Ilocos region is in good hands. Good luck!

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/business-log/)

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