Negrense Senior Supt. Rolen Balquin, the newly-installed provincial police director of Sultan Kudarat, yesterday described his new assignment in Mindanao as a “touch challenge” in his career.

Balquin, former director of the PNP Regional Training School 6 in Bacolod City, said he is confronted with problems of tribal wars, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, New People’s Army and other lawless groups.

As provincial police director of Sultan Kudarat, Balquin supervises 12 town and city police stations.

Balquin, who also formerly served as regional director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Western Visayas, said he also wants to get rid of police scalawags under his command.

He said two policemen assigned at the Tacurong City Police Station in Sultan Kudarat tested positive for shabu in a recent drug testing.

The random drug testing being regularly conducted in Sultan Kudarat is part of a continuing effort to remove drug dependents among its members.

“ We want morally upright policemen to remain in the force. We will punish and discharge erring members from the service,” Balquin said.

Before his assignment in Sultan Kudarat, Balquin was assigned in Negros Occidental for about 15 years. * GPB

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