General Santos City and the SOCCSKSARGEN Region have new police chiefs.

Col. Eric De Venancio has assumed his post as officer-in-charge of the General Santos City Police Office (GSCPO) during the turnover ceremony on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, replacing Col. Nicomedes Olaivar, Jr.

Venancio was the former chief of the Regional Recruitment and Selection Unit of Police Regional Office-SOCCKSARGEN (PRO-12) and former commander of the City Mobile Force Company-12.

The turnover of command was led by the new acting director of PRO-12, Brigadier General Alan Manibog, who replaced Brigadier General Arnold Ardiente on Sunday, May 24.

“Expected naman talaga ito kasi extended na nga ang term ni PCol. Olaivar, ang normal term of duty is two years, so na-extend siya ng six months,” Manibog said.

As new police director in General Santos City, Venancio aims to improve police deployment.

“We will focus on police deployment, I check nato kung ano ang pwede  I -enhance…Kailangan gyud ang katawhan sa Gensan kailangan ng cooperation kay ang pulis pila ra man mi , 800 ra mi,” Venancio said.

Olaivar has yet to receive a new assignment, as of this writing.

“Basta naa order mu-trabaho ang usa ka police, ang usa ka officer kay iyaha manang sworn duty nga mutrabaho,” Olaivar said.

Meanwhile, Manibog clarified that PRO-12 will only follow lawful instructions when asked about the order of the Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding the International Criminal Court (ICC) warrante against Senator Ronald Dela Rosa.

“Ang PNP gasunod raman pud mi og lawful orders, ‘pag instructions of our DOJ, the PNP, the NBI, and other law enforcement agencies to track the Senator Bato Dela Rosa, so we will just follow order, we will do the same here in PRO-12,” Manibog added.