Negros Oriental OIC provincial police director Col. Jonathan Pineda(Photo by Judy Flores Partlow) DUMAGUETE CITY - Negros Oriental Governor Pryde Henry Teves is asking the Philippine National Police (PNP) that he be given the chance to choose the next provincial police director, as what is being practiced at the provincial and local government levels. Provincial Capitol information officer Oliver Lemence said Thursday Brig. Gen. Roque Vega, Police Regional Office 7 (Central Visayas) director, has promised to send three names of nominees for the position for Teves to choose from. This comes after the "controversial" relief of Col. Germano Mallari as provincial police director and the designation of Col. Jonathan Pineda as his replacement in an officer in charge capacity. The PNP national headquarters had first issued a relief order for Mallari on August 15, which was nullified on the same day. However, the following day, a similar order came out naming Pineda as the new OIC police director, provincial legal officer Ronel Depalubos said. "The governor was hurt by this move because he was not consulted," he said during Wednesday's regular Capitol press briefing. Teves had wanted Mallari to stay for continuity of the programs and projects that he had started, Depalubos said. No reason was given for Mallari's relief. Depalubos noted that usually, the governor or the city or municipal mayor is given the opportunity to meet with the three nominees identified by the PNP hierarchy, and "interview" them on their possible peace and order and anti-criminality programs if chosen. After the installation of Pineda, Vega and Teves had met regarding the assignment of a permanent provincial police director in Negros Oriental, he said. Pineda has already met with Depalubos although his courtesy call on the governor still has to be scheduled as the latter is busy with prior appointments. (PNA) }