New Bacolod police chief told to enforce health protocols

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said his first directive to the incoming acting city police director is to ensure that health protocols are enforced as Bacolod continues to battle the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

Col. Manuel Placido was assigned to head the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) effective September 28 after Col. Henry Biñas was relieved as city police director and reassigned as chief of the Directorial Staff of the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) Drug Enforcement Group at the national headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

“The first thing I will tell him, everybody anyway knows this, is to implement the protocols whatever Bacolod’s quarantine status will be. I hope he will focus on that. Our priority is still Covid-19. This is a specialized field, I’d like him to take a good look at it,” Leonardia said in an interview.

Placido, whose previous assignment was with the Civil Security Group, already arrived in the city.

He added that Brig. Gen. Rene Pamuspusan, director of Police Regional Office 6 (Western Visayas), Placido and Biñas will meet him.

Biñas, who has served Bacolod since Jan. 12, 2019, and Placido are both members of the PNP Academy Class 1995.

Leonardia said he was banking on PNP Chief, Gen. Camilo Cascolan’s endorsement of Placido to head the BCPO.

“I understand that Gen. Cascolan personally knows (Col. Placido). Gen. Cascolan has been here in Bacolod so I also know him,” he added.*