PLTCOL Ian Paul F. Arapols took command of the Guihulngan City Police Station on September 16, weeks after the PNP relieved six chiefs of police across Negros Oriental under its one-strike policy on illegal gambling — with Guihulngan among the areas where the operations that triggered it took place.
GUIHULNGAN CITY — Police Lieutenant Colonel Ian Paul F. Arapols is the new acting chief of police of the Guihulngan City Police Station, assuming office during a turnover ceremony here on September 16, 2026.
He succeeds PLTCOL Nerito S. Lobrido, who had been serving as officer-in-charge of the station.
The turnover was attended by the acting provincial director of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office, PCOL Jonathan B. Abella, together with other senior police officials. Guihulngan City Mayor Filomeno “Mikoy” Reyes also attended, reaffirming the city government’s support for the police in maintaining peace, security and public safety.
Personnel of the Police Auxiliary and Reserve Management Unit, led by PLTCOL Romeo G. Cubo, joined the ceremony, with Cubo delivering remarks during the program.
The formal turnover covered the responsibilities, property, operational plans and ongoing programs of the police station.
The change follows a province-wide shake-up
The handover comes less than three weeks after the Philippine National Police relieved the provincial director of NOrPPO and six chiefs of police across Negros Oriental under its One-Strike Policy on illegal gambling.
Those relief orders followed simultaneous operations on August 28 by the Regional Special Operations Group of Police Regional Office Negros Island Region, which produced six arrests. The operations were conducted in the municipalities of Ayungon, Tayasan, Sibulan and Pamplona, and in the cities of Bayawan and Guihulngan.
The one-strike policy holds police commanders accountable when outside units run successful operations inside their areas of responsibility.
The provincial office itself has changed hands in that period. PCOL Lito Patay, deputy regional director for operations of PRO NIR, was designated officer-in-charge of NOrPPO on August 30. By the September 16 ceremony in Guihulngan, the office was represented by PCOL Abella as acting provincial director.
What the ceremony did not settle
The turnover documents released publicly do not state whether the change at Guihulngan is connected to the August relief orders, how long the acting designation runs, or when a permanent chief of police will be named. Neither the city police station nor the provincial office has said so on the record.
Photographs of the ceremony were released by the PNP Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office.
