Murcia: The Philippine National Police (PNP) is considering the municipality of Murcia in Negros Occidental as the strategic location for the new Police Regional Office - Negros Island Region (PRO-NIR). This decision aims to place the command center near Bacolod City while deploying mobile forces throughout the island.
According to Philippines News Agency, PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. informed senators on Thursday about the various sites proposed for the new regional headquarters. The options included locations in northern Negros, Kabankalan, near Bacolod, and Murcia. After deliberations, Murcia was deemed the most suitable location. During a Senate Finance Subcommittee J hearing on the proposed 2027 budget for the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Nartatez mentioned that the site in Murcia would encompass seven hectares.
Murcia's inland location in Negros Occidental, east of Bacolod, offers proximity to the province's main urban center while remaining accessible to interior regions. Senator Joseph Victor 'JV' Ejercito emphasized the need for the PNP to establish and operationalize a regional police office for Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, and Bacolod City, following the creation of the Negros Island Region.
Nartatez explained that personnel for PRO-NIR would be sourced from the regional police offices of Western and Central Visayas, which previously covered the provinces and Bacolod City. To enhance police presence across the island, mobile force units are planned for Mabinay in Negros Oriental and Sagay City in northern Negros Occidental. The setup aims to balance deployment, with the regional office on the Occidental side and mobile forces closer to Oriental.
Senator Panfilo Lacson inquired whether the PNP could implement the project next year, should Congress approve the proposed PHP505 million capital outlay for the Negros regional headquarters. Nartatez confirmed that it would be ready for implementation. DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla highlighted the government's ongoing efforts to monitor and address the remaining insurgency presence in the country, including in Negros. Remulla noted the significant reduction in armed combatants from the peak of 25,000 in 1990 to approximately 800 currently, with the aim to reduce this number to zero through peaceful means by the end of the President's term.
