Gov. Emilio Macias II yesterday said he has chosen S/Supt. Augusto Marquez Jr. to replace S/Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe as Negros Oriental police provincial director, starting next month.

Macias selected Marquez from a list of three nominees submitted by the Philippine National Police in Camp Crame. The other nominees were S/Supt. Mariano Natu-el, Jr. and Supt. Ruben Sodsod.

Marquez, a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1984, is the Regional Police Intelligence Chief of Central Visayas.

Macias said he finally acquiesced to the relief of Buenafe, admitting that it is time for him to move on in his police career.

The governor had repeatedly refused to let go of Buenafe, asking for his extension, citing the police officer’s exemplary performance in maintaining peace and fighting criminality in the province.

"There's a song that tells about releasing a person, and that's how I am to describe the impending re-assignment of Buenafe," Macias said yesterday at the Capitol.

The governor held a closed-door meeting with Region 7 PNP Assistant Director C/Supt. Federico Terte, Marquez and Buenafe.

"I can't hold on to Omar (Buenafe) anymore. I have been wiating for him to say that he has to go, and although it is difficult to let him go, I have no choice," Macias said.

He added that he will give Marquez a chance to prove his worth, saying that if the incoming provincial police director can accomplish at least half of what Buenafe has done over the past two years and five months, he would be happy and satisfied.

Macias said he knew Buenafe when he was still a young lieutenant fresh out of the Philippine Military Academy in the mid-80s who was assigned to Negros Oriental.

The turnover of command of the PNP Negros Oriental is set on June 10 at Camp Fernandez, Agan-an, Sibulan.

Buenafe will swap places with Marquez, and apart from being the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Division chief for Central Visayas, will also be chief of the Visayas Area Police Intelligence Office.

This means that all RIIDs in Regions 6, 7 and 8 will be under that office, while Buenafe will be reporting directly to PNP Headquarters in Camp Crame. *JG

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