Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. yesterday said that he has recommended the permanent appointment of Senior Supt. Milko Lirazan as the provincial police director of Negros Occidental.

Lirazan had replaced Senior Supt. Allan Guisihan, who is now assigned as the chief of directorial staff of the Police Regional Office 6, in Iloilo.

Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, regional police director of Western Visayas, yesterday said he had discussed with Marañon the status of the appointment of Lirazan.

Marañon said Cruz agreed to his recommendation to make permanent the designation as NOPPO provincial police director of Lirazan who has served as officer-in-charge for almost two months, as soon as possible.

Cruz said Lirazan did his job well in improving the peace and order condition of Negros Occidental, citing a 20 percent reduction of the crime volume in the province from January to August this year, compared to the same period of last year.

He, however, debunked persistent claims that Senior Supt. Ricardo de la Paz, director of the Bacolod City Police Office, is due for transfer.

Marañon had earlier challenged Lirazan to prove his worth and go after illegal drugs and gambling operations, especially in northern Negros.

He said he urged Cruz, who paid a courtesy call on him yesterday at the Provincial Capitol in Bacolod City, to address the problem of illegal gambling, proliferation of illegal drugs in Negros Occidental, and illegal fishing.

Maranon said illegal gambling makes the poor, who are patronizing it, get poorer, while its financiers are raking in money.

At a security briefing at Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr in Bacolod City, Cruz also stressed to police commanders that “illegal is illegal” So, he added, “We must have a zero tolerance stance against all forms of illegal activities.”

Cruz added that they will also exert efforts in their campaign against illegal logging and fishing, aside from illegal gambling, drugs and wanted persons.* GPB

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