The helm of the Pampanga Police Office that is. Senior Supt. Keith Ernald Singian, OIC-police director, relinquishing his post to Senior Supt. Gil Lebin, his PMA mistah, yesterday morning.
“Two great police officers,” said De la Cruz of Singian – “for his highest devotion to duty,” and Lebin – “hard-working.”
After pinning the Medalya ng Kasanayan, the police efficiency medal, on Singian, the regional police director, hailed Singian for his accomplishments in “curbing crime and developing professionalism among his men.”
Came to mind what the uber developer Delfin Lee said at the PPO last Monday: “Respect is what one feels soon as entering the grounds here. Respect is what Keith Singian has earned not only from his men but among the various sectors of Pampanga society. I now belong to your fans, Colonel Singian.”
The two-year term of Singian at the PPO saw the neutralization of kidnap-for-ransom gangs and raids in shabu laboratories and warehouses in Floridablanca and Dau, Mabalacat that greatly diminished the nefarious drug trade in the province, if not in the whole region.
It was at Singian’s watch too that a large cache of arms of the splinter group Rebolusyonaryong Hukbong Bayan was confiscated, which, some police officers deemed as a major setback to what remains of the insurgency movement.
Then there was the hostage drama on a Genesis bus beamed live to a national television audience that ended in the safe release of all the hostages, and, the death of the hostage-taker.
The two-year term of Singian saw the Pampanga Police Office earning PPO of the Year (2007 and 2008) in Central Luzon.
“Great officers like you will always shine, wherever your way takes you,” De la Cruz said of Singian in his send-off.
To Lebin, he gave two pieces of advice: “Do your job. Do it well.” Even as he expressed the certainty that Levin “can do it.”
No stranger to Central Luzon is Levin, having been at the Criminal Intelligence and Detection Group at Camp Olivas for quite a time – “going through four RDs (regional directors).”
Before coming back to the region as a member of the RD staff last month, Lebin was chief of the PNP Maritime office in Palawan.
Whispered as a relative of the Arroyos, being an Ilonggo, Lebin said the only Arroyo he could relate to was the street where he lived.
So what had he to say of the open animosity of Gov. Eddie T. Panlilio on his designation as OIC-PD of Pampanga?
“I follow orders. I just do my best.”
So what is his stand on jueteng, asked the intrepid Tonette Orejas.
“Is there jueteng here?”
Why Lebin, despite the expressed objection of the governor, I asked De la Cruz.
“Lebin is the only available qualified officer.”
How about, Senior Supts. George Gaddi, Sonny Cunanan, and Danilo Bautista who were supposed to be in a list?
“Both Gaddi and Cunanan are not assigned in the region. Bautista is holding a very sensitive position at the regional office. And what list?”
Tonette again: “The list you were supposed to have returned to SILG (Interior Secretary Ronnie Puno) according to my source.”
“Who is your source?”
Tonette: “I cannot tell you, you know that.”
“Your source is lying. I did not return any list.”
Why is Lebin OIC only and not PD?
“This is in accordance with law. With Singian due for relief and in the absence of a list presented to the governor, an OIC has to be designated.”
So is Cong. Mikey Arroyo meddling in police matters?
“I am the RD and I make decisions. The last time I had contact with the congressman was when he texted Merry Christmas and once in January.”
So has the region’s top cop been talking to the governor on these matters, lately?
“No.”
Hold onto your seats folks, more drama is set to unfold in this saga of the hunt for a police chief to Panlilio’s liking in the province of Pampanga.
Ah, yes, RD De la Cruz remembered me all too well for the inclusion of my name in the police order of battle when he was Pampanga PC’s intel officer.
A hearty laugh we had in remembering.
