SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union – Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil assumed on Tuesday as police regional director for the Ilocos region following his installation here by Police Director General Oscar Calderon.

Bataoil, until recently chief of the Northern Police District and former spokesman of the Philippine National Police, replaced Senior Superintendent Nicanor Casaclang who was officer-in-charge of Police Regional Office 1 for 35 days.

The installation rite was attended by La Union Gov. Victor Ortega, his wife San Fernando City Mayor Marijane Ortega, retired Police Director General Arturo Lomibao, now administrator of the National Irrigation Administration, retired Police Deputy Administrator Reynaldo Velasco, Reps. Generoso Tulagan and Tomas Dumpit, retired Generals Manuel Casaclang, and Valerio Perez, municipal mayors and others.

Bataoil, a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and former police provincial director of his native Pangasinan, admitted that one of his dreams is to serve his home region which, he added, finally came true with his new assignment to head Police Regional Office 1.

Admitting that his eight-month tour of duty as director of the Northern Police District prepared him to take on greater responsibilities, Bataoil, said he considers it as his professional challenge to contribute to the integrated transformation program of the PNP.

“We will pursue the strategic direction of the PNP’s anti-crime efforts because we want our actions to relate well with the public expectation of more visible, highly efficient and trustworthy policemen patrolling the streets day and night,” he said.

“The general guidance (for policemen in Region 1) is for anything that is brewing in their areas, I want them to be in their areas of responsibilities always,” he said.