TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol (PIA) — “Sana kung hindi mo man malalampasan ang accomplishment nga outgoing provincial director, ay sana mapapantayan mo lang muna.” (If you can not surpass the accomplishment of the outgoing provincial director, we hope you could equal it, in the mean time)
Police regional director Brigadier General Anthony Aberin issued this challenge to the new Bohol Provincial Police Director, Police Director Arnel B. Banzon, who comes to in with an extremely large shoe to fill.
The past provincial director, Boholano Police Colonel Lorenzo A. Batuan bowed out as provincial director of Bohol police after completing a two year tour of duty, which according to the police general is already a feat in itself.
Gen. Aberin calls Colonel Batuan’s stint, “bihira,”and added this only means something: dedication and hard work with the support of the provincial government, the police force and the community.
With a one strike policy implemented by the police organization, any police commander can be easily relieved from duty for a mere breach of protocol of the Police Operational Procedures committed by any of his commanders or men in the field.
In fact, it was Aberin who personally issued a tall order for the new Bohol top cop, during the recent turn-over of command ceremonies held at the Camp Francisco Dagohoy covered court, October 21, following a stellar accomplishment of the outgoing colonel.
General Aberin, who considered the Batuan feat as a tough act to follow, noted that in the Boholano director’s 2 year tour of duty capped by a turn-over of the 34th, 35th and 36th Libreng Alagad ug Balay (LAB) decent low cost housing for law abiding Boholanos, initiated and sustained the Bohol Provincial Police Office Pabahay program.
Col Batuan, whose initials are LAB, gave birth to the local adaptation of the police Kasimbayanan in giving out decent houses to law abiding Boholanos, using the whole of nation approach in resource generation.
In partnership with the diocese of Tagbilaran and Talibon and the first couple: Governor Erico Aristother and Maria Vanessa Aumentado’s Balay sa Paglaum Program, the LAB has since given 36 houses to the poor, while nearly 20 more houses are in the different states of completion, for turn-over to their new owners all over the hinterlands of Bohol.
In his tenure, Col Batuan brought Bohol to greater heights, the regional police director said, but then, Colonel Banzon, speaking before the provincial media committed to continue the Batuan legacy.
Beyond that, the PNP regional director told Col Banzon to continue the aggressive campaign on all forms of criminality, especially the campaign against illegal drugs, wanted persons, loose firearms, campaign against Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations (POGO), electronic sabong and continued police presence in the streets. .
Himself a legendary Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) officer who led a lightning raid to neutralize in 15 minutes a stand-off involving 300 male and female inmates inside the Bohol District Jail in Cabawan, and a consummate management officer is the new Bohol Police Provincial Director.
Police Colonel Arnel Balagat Banzon, 55 years old from Cebu City, was born on September 22, 1969 to the late PCOL Pepito Banzon of Calape, Bohol, and son of the late Dorotea Pernia.
A member of Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Kaagapay Class 1996, the young police officer worked his way silently in the office setting and racked some serious accomplishments for his unit until he became a special weapons expert and commander.
After a decorated life as an active police quick response team leader, he soon proved his management skills when he contributed to the success of the series of ASEAN Senior Minister meeting in Bohol and Cebu by dutifully performing the secretariat duties of the security organizing committee of events as head secretariat.
Banzon largely orchestrated all matters relating to the security and safety of the foreign and local dignitaries who attended the event which he coordinated with the different involved government offices and sectorial groups with no occurrence of untoward incidents, earning him accolades from the PNP.
His experience as Provincial Director of Negros Oriental also bolstered his supervisory prowess in both admin and operational matters.
He was soon assigned as Chief of the Regional Operations Management Division, PRO7, from a stint as Former City Director of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office during the time of the pandemic.
For Boholanos, it was not his name, but his leadership that rings a bell.
5 AM of June 3, 2008, Boholanos were awakened to an escalating incident leading to a stand-off with the jail guards and the warden of the Bohol Detention and Rehabilitation Center in Brgy Cabawan District, Tagbilaran City. The escalation happened after a greyhound operation resulted in a riot months back, further electrifying the inmate-wardens and guards’ position.
To resolve the situation, a Cebu SWAT team led by then Major Banzon implemented the SWAT trademark shock and awe and subdued the 300 male and female inmates in just 15 minutes. (PIABohol)
