Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO) provincial director
Col. Joselito Lacro Clarito. Contributed photo

An officer and gentleman in uniform by Ardy and Dave
The year 2020 is the most challenging year for everyone! Moreover, this season might have been (and still is) the most difficult time for a leader. Why? It is because during this time of the pandemic, a leader’s mettle is tried and tested profusely, heavily and fearlessly. For a man in uniform, his leadership will be gauged according to his bearing, decisiveness, endurance, courage, enthusiasm, knowledge, dependability, and judgement.

As we continue to wade along the stream called the pandemic, we have grown accustomed to sets of protocol that should be kept in place for the public’s health, wellness and safety.

Any leader who faces the challenges of the pandemic is like a raw metal being subjected to the heat of a kiln to become as hard as iron and as tough as the tiger.

One person answers the qualities identified in the previous statements. Definitely, we can call personality of the week an iron man because of his no-nonesense approach in enforcing the law.

But at the very core, he is a humble officer described by many as a gentleman dedicated to his duty to God and country.

Born in Western Samar, this man used to call Quezon City as his home. However, after a few months of stay in Bohol, he has named the province as his real home, away from home.

Why not? Since his assumption into office as the top man tasked to take care of the peace and order of the Tourism Crown Jewel of the South, he has been implementing a culture of openness and zero tolerance to crime and vice. He was appointed to this post in May of 2020..

In the first few days of his assignment here, he showed his high caliber of performance by busting a huge drug ring eventually seizing P40 million worth of drugs. It was, indeed, a great way to make a first impression.

Fast forward to August 2020, he again busted a drug suspect, confiscating from the latter a P3.7 million worth of shabu. It comes not as a surprise that he was able to score huge drug busts as he was assigned at the drug enforcement group before this post he is handling now.

He is a seasoned man in anti-drug operations and his experience in this field is a strong tool to allow him to track down drug suspects in the province. His exploits impressed Gov. Arthur Yap back in August 2020 and, perhaps, it is the same skill of his, that is attracting the ire of drug syndicates in the province.

This man rose from the ranks to become the steward of Bohol’s peace. He is tasked to keep the province safe not just from ordinary criminals but also from protocol violators. He and his men have their hands full in making sure everyone is following the rules.
A graduate of the Philippine National Police Academy, this man in uniform studied Criminology at the Perpetual Help College of Rizal in Las Piñas City.

He is known as the mild mannered gentleman who gets the job done with compassion to his men. While he appreciates the hardwork of those who work under him, he never tolerates police officers who violate the law. A recent example is his resolve to send the former chief of police of Dauis to the bar of justice.

He has slowly but surely built a strong bond between him and the community. Even members of the Bohol media like his welcoming gesture through interviews without skipping an answer to every question thereby allowing the public access to the police organization.

While men of his position come and go, this gentleman cemented his legacy as one of the finest leaders of his organization. He may not be from Bohol but he has shown his love for the Boholanos by remaining truthful and committed to his duty as an officer for all.

He carries himself well, and always acts in a manner becoming to an officer. His courage in the service, has been proven as he has been performing his role effectively despite the present pandemic challenges.

His decisiveness on present issues is moving him to take swift and firm action. We see him as a leader with the initiative to move on his own without trying to lean on politics or on any pressure from different fronts.

Trust is essential in any leadership situation and with this trait that he has for his people and vice-versa, performing his tasks with success is not difficult to achieve. He is able to support this with his integrity as a man exhibiting honesty and uprightness not only in what he says but also in how he does things.

We are very proud in saying that we are having the right person assigned as the Profincial Director of the Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO).

Welcome to your home, COL. JOSELITO LACRO CLARITO.