CHANGE. Tagbilaran City has a new police chief in the person of Lt. Col. Mary Crystal Peralta (left). She is assuming leadership now at the Tagbilaran City Police Station from Lt. Col. Oscar Boyles (extreme right). Provincial director Col. Joselito Clarito (to the immediate left of Peralta) facilities the turnover rites inside Camp Dagohoy. The ceremonies were held last Thursday. Photo by Dave Charles Responte

Tagbilaran City is getting a new city police chief, and the new chief carves history as the first female head of the city police office.

 Lt. Col, Mary Crystal Peralta assumes the post of city police chief replacing Lt. Col. Oscar Boyles. The formal turnover of command happened last Thursday inside Camp Francisco Dagohoy.

 For his part, Boyles is reassigned to the Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO) as the chief of plans and programs.

 Moreover, Peralta is the 26tg chief of police of Tagbilaran.

 In ceremonies, Peralta was installed by Provincial Director Col. Joselito Clarito in simple rites. The change of command in the city police was under orders of Regional Director Brig. Gen. Ignatius Ferro.

 Peralta is a graduate of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Class of 2004, and used to be assigned at the Special Action Force.

She was also assigned at Lapu-Lapu Police Station before she was assigned at the Cebu City Police Office.

After her tour of duty in Central Visayas, Peralta was assigned at the Philippine National Police (PNP) national headquarters, which in Camp Crame, and held a number of positions.

 Also, she served as provincial officer, deputy regional chief of the Regional Maritime Unit 4-A, municipal police chief, secretary to the Directorial Staff, public information officer, and spokesperson of the Regional Office.

 In her acceptance speech, she said that it is her pleasure to serve the province and become the first woman chief of police of Tagbilaran.

 She hopes to approach the police matters with a “motherly touch”.

“As we recognize the role of women in nation building, we have to consider the women’s approach in any circumstance. We are not claiming that we are better, but we have different perspective and ways on how to tackle issues and challenges. We have the woman’s and motherly touch combined,” Peralta said.

 Further, she is bent in improving the morale of the PNP personnel in the city.

 It is important to harness the hidden talents of the men and women of the city PNP, she added.

Last Friday, Peralta paid Mayor John Geesnell Yap a courtesy call and also had a courtesy call with members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod.