Brigadier General Anthony Abellada Aberin has officially assumed as Police Regional Office Central Visayas (PRO 7) chief on Monday, March 20, 2023, in place of Brigadier General Jerry Bearis, who will be transferred to the Aviation Security Group in Camp Crame in Quezon City. (Photo by AYB)
Area Police Command-Visayas Commander Lieutenant General Patrick Villacorte presided the turnover of command in Camp Sergio Osmeña in Osmeña Boulevard, Cebu City on Monday morning, March 20, 2023.
In his speech, Aberin emphasized that his administration will be focused on the three A’s, which stand for Able, Active, and Allied police officer.
Aberin said he wanted the police to be visible in the streets to prevent crimes from happening.
He said that those who disobey his orders will face punishments.
“Those who will be found violating will be sanctioned summarily. Why will we do this? I strongly believe that the presence of our policemen on the streets is a strong deterrent to crime and will ensure that our constituents will feel comfortably safe and secure. In relation to this, I want every member of PRO 7 to be an “AAA” policeman. Everyone must be Able, Active and Allied police officer,” Aberin said.
Aberin revealed that many policemen in the Central Visayas have been relieved of their duty because of their failure to neutralize the e-sabong.
The new PRO 7 chief added he saw how big the e-sabong problem is in the entire country because they were tasked to investigate the disappearance of illegal cockfight enthusiasts when he was still assigned to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the National Capital Region.
“Pasok kasi sa illegal gambling ang e-sabong, alam naman natin previously sa SITG (Special Investigation Task Group) Sabongero ako yung commander, I have seen kung ilan yung namatay duon because of E-Sabong. Nakita mo ang implication duon sa society na pati bata pwede nang magsabong,” Aberin stressed.
(E-sabong is categorized as illegal gambling. Since when I was the commander of SITG Sabongero, I have seen how many people died because of e-sabong. You have observed the effects of it on society, where even children participate in illegal gambling).
Aberin’s priorities include the dismantling of private armed groups that operate in Negros Oriental following the massacre of late governor Roel Degamo and eight other civilians in his residential compound in Pamplona town, Negros Oriental on March 4, 2023.
Meanwhile, General Bearis boasted his accomplishments over the previous two months and 25 days when he was still the PRO 7 director.
Based on the data by PRO 7 from December 19, 2022 to March 17, 2023, a total of P254.3 million worth of illegal drugs were seized and 1,980 drug personalities were apprehended.
Another 2,345 wanted persons were arrested and 81 persons nabbed for illegal possession of firearms, and 1,146 unlicensed weapons and 47 explosives were confiscated.
Bearis credited the PRO 7’s Center for Public Safety Analysis for its role in the speedy resolution of the case.
Bearis expressed confidence that PRO 7’s new leadership would succeed in its programs.
He also believes that the region will remain peaceful under the administration of Aberin. (AYB, TPT)