By: Jennifer P. Rendon
HE COULD be a lot of things, but as far as work qualifications are concerned, Police Colonel Roland Vilela is beyond reproach, according to Western Visayas’ top cop.
Police Brigadier General Rene Pamuspusan, Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 director, vouched for Vilela’s work ethics amid questions on his appointment as Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) chief.
“I can guarantee the people of Iloilo that he could deliver what was expected of him, and maybe, beyond that,” he said.
With some people questioning his qualifications, Vilela might even work harder if only to prove his detractors wrong, Pamuspusan said.
“I believe he would prove his worth and would perform well,” he said.
Pamuspusan laughed off reports that some policewomen opted to seek assignment outside of Iloilo province after hearing of their incoming commander’s past.
“In fairness to Colonel Vilela, he passed through two screening process before he was picked,” he said.
There’s a sub-board that look into the qualifications of the recommendees. It will then reach the Senior Officers Placement and Promotion Boars (SOPPB) to determine if they’re qualified or not until the recommendees are whittled down to three.
The three names will be submitted to the Office of the Governor from which he would pick his choice.
Pamuspusan pointed out that the cases against Vilela did not prosper.
“Whatever happened in the past, natuto na rin s’ya sa ganoong sitwasyon. I’ve worked with him during APEC Summit and I could see he performed well,” he said.
Pamuspusan described Vilela as a determined and result-oriented officer.
Vilela’s appointment as IPPO chief was marred with reports of his involvement in several cases and scandal.
But he earlier labeled it as away-pamilya or family feud that was part of his past.
The 45-year-old Vilela speaks fluent Hiligaynon as her mother is from Sapi-an, Capiz.
He now lives in Davao City.
A quick search of the web would reveal that Vilela is the “estranged” husband of another PNP known officer – Colonel Royina Garma, the first female chief of Cebu City Police Office.
Garma was chosen to head Cebu at the height of several killings in the city. While she might not appeal to then Mayor Tomas Osmeña, Garma certainly has the trust and confidence of President Rodrigo Duterte.
On June 24, Duterte announced Garma’s appointment as general manager at the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), an agency rocked by corruption allegations.
In 2007, Vilela hogged the limelight after a sex scandal of him and another woman surfaced.
Two years before that, Vilela, who was then a police major who headed Davao City’s city’s police anti-vice unit, was accused of raping a then 17-year old commercial sex worker.
But all cases against him were not pursued in Court.
A dismissal order was imposed against him but Vilela managed to settle it in his favor.
He was even assigned to several posts and was promoted ahead of some batch mates at the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Class 1997.
Currently, Vilela is on schooling for a PD (provincial director) course at the PNP National Headquarters in Camp Crame.
“And let me clarify, I don’t have any orders yet. I’m slated to take over IPPO on September 1,” he said.
Amid the controversy and anticipation of his assumption, Vilela asked that he be given a chance to prove his worth.
