Mayor to Baguio PNP chief: Address crime the right way

By Sohee Kim

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio Domogan told the new city police chief he is authorized to introduce changes in peace and order programs of this summer capital, provided such will be more effective.

Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan ordered new city police chief Senior Supt. Eliseo Tanding to also maintain such programs of his predecessor Senior Supt. Ramil L. Saculles because these were effective in maintaining peace and order.

“We have no place for the conduct of trial and error in terms of peace and order programs because we should not compromise the safety and security of our constituents and visitors. We do not want to repeat what happened in the past that is why we reiterate the position of the local government for the new police official to sustain the proven and established peace and order interventions for the benefit of the people,” Domogan said.

Tanding was presented to officials and employees of the local government as the new BCPO officer-in-charge during regular flag raising ceremony at the city hall grounds.

Domogan said city police should be prepared for events in the city like the 69^th edition of the Fil-Am amateur invitational golf tournament, the month-long Christmas in Baguio festivities, the 24th edition of Panagbenga or the Baguio flower festival with the influx of visitors to the city.

According to him, there is a need for the local government and the city police to sustain their close coordination so that matters on peace and order, traffic management, anti-drug operations, anti-gambling campaign, among other peacekeeping and anti-criminality efforts.

Tanding was reportedly born in Ucab, Itogon, Benguet and studied in Baguio City before graduating as a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PNPA) Class 1990 and served in various positions as a junior and senior officer of the Philippine National Police (PNP) before being assigned in BCPO.

However, Domogan expressed disappointment over the frequent circumvention being done by the PNP leadership on the said provision wherein there had been an instance that an officer-in-charge was able to serve his near full term in BCPO without giving the chance to him to recommend the deserving police officer to serve as city police chief.