KALIBO, Aklan – Aklan Provincial Police Office (APPO) Acting Director Supt. Larry Decena welcomed the assumption of Director General Jesus Versoza as the new Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.

Versoza, a native of Dasol, Pangasinan and member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1976, replaced outgoing PNP Chief Avelino Razon on September 27.

He was the executive director of the PNP Program Management Office involved in the Integrated Transformation Program.

"The new PNP chief is a disciplined and straight-forward police officer. I am looking for him to continue the reform initiatives for the police force, especially in the Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO)," Decena said.

Decena, a member of Philippine National Police Academy Class 1986, is the officer-in-charge of APPO following the reassignment of former APPO Director Senior Supt. Benigno Durana, Jr. to Georgia as deputy senior police adviser of the United Nations peacekeeping force on September 30.

Durana is known in Aklan as an advocate of reform programs and has guided the APPO organization in getting the support of the United States Department of Justice International Criminal Investigative Training, an assistance programs for law enforcement agencies.

On December 13, 2007, Verzosa was here in Aklan for the groundbreaking ceremony of the P10-million three-storey building at the historic Camp Pastor Martelino. The construction of the new building will start next week, Decena said. "The reform initiatives of the APPO will improve the morale and welfare of its personnel, strengthen law enforcement, and provide communities with capable, credible and effective police service," he stressed during his visit.

The Model Project Station that gained the continuous support of the US government and the PNP is looking for areas like Kalibo and Boracay Island where police stations could improve their service, Versoza said.