LINGAYEN – A top police official in the Ilocos region said it is just a normal thing if the newly assumed city and municipal executives, particularly the new ones, ask for the replacement of their police chiefs.

Chief Supt. Leopoldo Bataoil, police regional director in the Ilocos, said it is the prerogative of officials who assumed office June 30 to ask for a new face as their chief of police.

The PNP Law must be observed however in any replacement of chiefs of police, Bataoil told newsmen here.

Under the PNP Law, the local chief executive must select from among five names of officers to be recommended by the Police Provincial Director.

In Pangasinan, he said, Sr. Supt. Isagani Nerez, must now be ready with a list of names to be recommended as chiefs of police in case the newly assumed mayors, especially the new ones, would like to change their chiefs of police.

There are 48 towns and cities in Pangasinan. Of the number, 17 are new ones.

A report said that some of these mayors, especially the new ones want to have new chiefs of police.

“I am leaving all these to the discretion of the police provincial director. He knows who are the people to recommend,” Bataoil said.