Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell “Baba” Yap has been invited as the inducting officer of the newly appointed members of the Provincial Advisory Council (PAC) of the Philippine National Police (PNP-Bohol) and led them in an oath-taking ceremony held at the Amorita Resort in Barangay Tawala, Panglao town, on April 21, 2014. The creation of the council, as mandated by the PNP Camp Crame, is aimed at enhancing police operations in the province, according to the Bohol Police Provincial Office (BPPO) who organized Bohol's first ever advisory council, a multi-sectoral group who will help identify key priorities and strategic issues faced by the men and women in uniform. Police Senior Superintendent Dennis Palo Agustin has said he hoped the Council would share with the police their knowledge and insights in relation to police operations designed to better serve the Boholano populace.

Panglao Mayor Nila Montero, who gave her welcome address during the oath-taking ceremony, said that maintaining peace and order in Bohol is a close collaboration between the police and the community. She has lauded the creation of the council whose members are known as advocates of truth and justice. PAC is an offshoot of the PNP Regional Advisory Council, which was created by the Regional Police Headquarters, in compliance with the mandate of the national PNP office. Elected chairman of PAC is Mike Ortega Ligalig, editor in chief of Bohol Sunday Post and president of Bohol Police Press Corps. Vice-chairman is Atty. Bernie Calibo, retired regional NAPOLCOM director. Former City Councilor Anne Mariquit "Kit" Derikito-Oppus, who is also wife of General Louie Oppus, serves in the Council's secretariat.

The members of the advisory council are former governor and bar topnotcher Atty. Victor Dela Serna, former Provincial Administrator Atty. Antonio Amora Jr.; former college dean and professor Ardy Ines Araneta; Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry outgoing president Atty. Mans Tumanda; Regional Comelec Official Atty. Veronico Petalcorin; Engr. Arnold Labunog, proprietor of Jojie's Bakeshop and Painitang Bol-anon; former National Irrigation Administration official Engr. Nilo Sarigumba; business consultant and analyst Donald Sevilla; retired Police Chief Boy Pilayre; and Pastor Rufino Fudalan, of the Philippine Evangelical Mission. Dela Serna, Oppus, and Sevilla were not able to attend the oath-taking event, but they are expected to take their oath before Col. Agustin in May. Ligalig, in his acceptance speech, said that the members of the council are committed to support the programs of the police aimed at making Bohol a better place to live in. PAC vice-chairman director Calibo, for his part, said that the police are the public, and the public is the police – and that the two must work together in order to establish a stable peace and order situation in society. Expenses incurred during the oath-taking ceremony were shouldered by Atty. Tumanda and Engr. Labunog. (RVO)