SAN FERNANDO CITY - Senior Superintendent Emmanuel R. Gaerlan has been relieved of his post as director of the Pampanga Police Provincial Office (PPO), a move his superior, Chief Superintendent Arturo G. Cacdac Jr., said Friday was necessary to improve the PPO's anti-crime campaign.
Cacdac, the director of the Police Regional Office 3, said the Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PamCham) had been particularly concerned over the PPO's failure to stop crimes such as hijacking, robbery, carnapping which, in some cases, were coupled with homicide.
"This is not good in business. The spate of killings (in Pampanga) affects the flow of businesses, as most of traders are frightened to go out even for rest and recreation," said PamCham President Rene Romero.
Gaerlan was replaced by Sr. Supt. Petronilo Retirado during a simple turn-over ceremony held over the weekend at the Capitol in this city.
With the change of guard at the PPO, Pampanga business groups are appealing to Retirado to prove his worth by bringing back peace and order in the province to liven up the business climate.
Romero noted that there has been a lack in police visibility and augmentation of officers on duty in areas where criminals usually strike.
At the same time, PamCham appealed to incoming local government administrators to pursue programs that would help strengthen the police, support them in terms of logistics to enable them to be dynamic in fighting criminals.
For his part, Cacdac agreed that for peace and order to be restored, there must be a strong cooperation among the police, the local government unit, the business sector and the community.
