TACLOBAN CITY- Brigadier Gen. Ronaldo De Jesus is the new police director of the region, replacing B/Gen. Bernabe Balba.
De Jesus, prior to his new assignment, was assigned in Eastern Mindanao of the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s directorate for integrated police operations.
He formally assumed to his new post last Sept 14 in a simple turn-over ceremony.
Balba, who headed the police office in the region beginning on March 19 of this year, was appointed as the new head of the elite Philippine National Police-Special Action Force.
De Jesus, a member of the PNP Academy Tagapagbuklod Class of 1989, was previously assigned to the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations in Eastern Mindanao.
Meanwhile, Balba expressed his gratitude to the police force and the public for their support since he assumed his post for just over seven months, one of the shortest terms of a PNP police director of the region.
“Before I came, there were a lot of questions that I myself answered it and conquered it with flying colors. It is because of your relentless hard work, support, dedication and resiliency that we were able to move forward and continually facing and fighting the havoc of this pandemic,” said Balba in his farewell speech.
“It has been 174 fruitful days of my life with the people whom I consider as the epitome of real warriors. I came here with confidence that my fellow kababayans will never settle for mediocrity, hence, exceeded my expectations,” he added.
During his stint, Balba pushed for a leadership style based on the three basic Filipino values of “Malinis, Magalang at Maasahan” as a guide for effective police service. (RONALD O. REYES)
