Gullas to Recla: Aim for high-profile drug personalities

TALISAY City Mayor Eduardo Gullas challenged the new city police chief to prioritize the hunt for high-profile drug personalities in its anti-criminality campaign.

If Acting Talisay City Police Station Chief Aileen Recla meets the mayor’s expectations, Gullas said he will not hesitate to recommend her to hold the post in a permanent capacity.

Recla started her stint as acting Talisay police chief last Wednesday, following a revamp implemented by the Regional Police Office (PRO) 7.

Recla replaced Supt. Germano Mallari who was transferred to the Bogo City Police Station.

Recla, in a separate interview, assured Gullas that she will do her best to exceed his expectations.

Gullas admitted that he was disappointed when the PRO7 appointed Recla without consulting him first.

Gullas said he did not hide his displeasure when Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Jose Macanas, Recla and Mallari came to his office last Thursday for a courtesy call.

“I have nothing against Macanas, Recla and Mallari, but I resent the decision. They’re (PNP) violating the law, and the law said that the city or municipal mayor has the option to choose from three police officials who would serve as his chief of police,” said Gullas.

Opinion

As a lawyer, Gullas said he believed that if the law has not been amended, then it should be implemented as it is.

He also respected the opinion of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who recently ex- pressed his disappointment after some police officials in his city were transferred to other areas in the country.

Gullas cited Republic Act 8551, or The PNP Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998, which states that city and municipal mayors have the authority to choose the chief of police from a list of five eligible officers recommended by the provincial police director, preferably from the same province, city or municipality.

But Gullas was assured by Macanas that Recla will only serve as an acting police chief for a month.

With Recla’s one-month stint, Gullas said he still wants the police official to focus the campaign against high-profile drug personalities.

Recla told Sun.Star Cebu that she accepted the mayor’s challenge and she hopes to show some progress in her stint as police chief of Talisay.

Recla said she has led two Oplan Tokhang operations in Barangay Tanke, which has been known as a haven for illegal drug personalities.