Pursuant to Republic Act Number 12000, signed by President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. in June 2024, the Negros Island Region (NIR) was officially created, comprising the two provinces of Negros Island and the island province of Siquijor. This move led to the activation of the Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR) supported by the January 9, 2025 resolution of the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM), which approved the transfer of administrative supervision and operational control over the Police Provincial Offices of Negros Oriental, Negros Occidental, Siquijor, and the Bacolod City Police Office from the Police Regional Offices 6 and 7.
NIR, the country’s youngest region was originally established on May 29, 2015, when the late President Benigno Aquino III signed the Executive Order Number 183, which separated Negros Occidental from Region 6 (Western Visayas) and Negros Oriental from Region 7 (Central Visayas). However, it was abolished on August 9, 2017, when then President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Aquino’s successor, signed the Executive Order Number 38, repealing the EO 183, reverting the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental to Region 6 and 7, respectively.
Following the activation of NIR, the Philippine National Police (PNP), under the leadership of Police General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil, PNP Chief, hosted the inauguration of PRO-NIR on March 27, 2025, at the Acacia Hotel in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. The event was graced by the Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary for Peace and Order, Hon. Nestor B. Sanares, who served as the Guest of Honor and Speaker. It was also attended by several senior government officials, including Police Lieutenant General Robert T. Rodriguez, the Deputy Chief PNP for Operations, who represented the PNP Top Cop; along with other senior PNP officials from PROs 6 and 7.
The ceremony also highlighted the Assumption of Office of Police Brigadier General Jack Limpayos Wanky, Regional Director of PRO 6, to serve as the concurrent Officer-in-Charge of PRO-NIR. Accompanying him in the key leadership positions are Police Colonel Dennis Araño Esguerra, who assumed the role of Officer-in-Charge, Deputy Regional Director for Administration; Police Colonel Gilbert Tanchuan Gorero, designated as Officer-in-Charge, Chief of the Regional Staff; and Police Colonel Ronaldo Planco Palomo, who was assigned as Officer-in-Charge of the Regional Operations Management Division.
PBGen Wanky expressed his gratitude to the trust and confidence given to him by the PNP leadership, stating: “I am truly humbled to accept this additional role in concurrent capacity as the Regional Director of Police Regional Office 6. This commitment comes with a realization that I am not alone in this undertaking. I know how driven our PNP personnel here, and how supportive the stakeholders especially the Local Chief Executives.”
Under the new structure, PRO-NIR shall be composed of police units from PRO 6 and PRO 7. Among the region’s police units from PRO 6 are the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office, the Bacolod City Police Office, and all Component City and Municipal Police Stations in the province of Negros Occidental. While from PRO 7, includes the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office and the Siquijor Police Provincial Office, along with their respective city and municipal police stations. For more effective operations, PRO-NIR will also have its own Regional Mobile Force Battalion composed of 684 personnel—47 of whom are Police Commissioned Officers, while 637 are Police Non-Commissioned Officers.
CPNP Marbil emphasized that the historic activation of PRO-NIR is poised to create a more community-oriented policing system—an autonomous, responsive, and efficient police force committed to ensure peace, order, and security in the newly created Negros Island Region.
“The activation of Police Regional Office-Negros Island Region marks a significant step in ensuring a more responsive and community-oriented policing system. This reorganization reflects our commitment to upholding peace and order, as well as our dedication to serving and protecting the people of Negros Island and its neighboring provinces,” said PNP Top Cop.
The PNP-NIR Regional Office will be temporarily located at Camp Alfredo Abelardo Montilebano Sr. in Bacolod City until a permanent facility is established.
