BRIGADIER General Benjamin H. Silo Jr. on Tuesday took over as the new director of the Philippine National Police Civil Security Group (PNP-CSG) with a vow to voluntarily relinquish his post before the scheduled barangay election if he would fail to deliver his promise.

First on his commitment is to score a significant reduction in the number of loose firearms as ordered by PNP chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr.

He said that under him, the PNP-CSG which is tasked to exercise administrative and operational control in the regulation of the firearms, explosive and security agency industries, will play a major role in achieving the peace and order, safety and security agenda of President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr.

“Hence, efficient and effective implementation of our regulatory powers must be upheld,” said the official who assumed his post during simple rites at the PNP-CSG headquarters in Camp Crame officiated by PNP Director for Comptrollership, Major Gen. Jesus D. Cambay Jr., himself a former PNP-CSG director.

Brig. Gen. Silo replaced newly-retired Major Gen. Eden T. Ugale of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) ‘Bigkis-Lahi’ Class of 1990.

The PNP-CSG supervises the operations of the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office (PNP-FEO) and the PNP Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies or PNP-SOSIA.

The erstwhile regional director of the Police Regional Office 11 (PRO11) in Southern Mindanao also committed to adhere to and help strengthen the policies and program thrusts of the PNP under Gen. Azurin and President Marcos.

“I will continue to protect the integrity of the organization. We will strictly continue the last practices here in CSG. We need to introduce innovations that will improve the CSG’s services to the public,” he added.

A veteran police investigator who also happened to be a lawyer, the official declared that as a frontline service, they need to ensure compliance with the easing out of business transactions and observe principles above private gains.

“Strict observance of transparency, accountability and public trust,” he said will be a norm by the PNP-CSG and its subordinate units under his leadership.

“A public office is a public trust signifies that we have been entrusted with public power by the people. That we hold this power in trust to be used only for the benefits of the people and never for the benefits of ourselves,” he emphasized.

The official who will earn his 2nd-star with his new position also vowed to lead the PNP-CSG in taking good care of its officers down to their lowest-ranked personnel.

“Just like what I did in PRO11, I’ll assure you that if you do good in your service, I will take good care of you,” he said.

Brig. Gen. Silo also called on his men to help the current administration combat all forms of criminalities and in its campaign against illegal drugs starting with a strict implementation of firearms laws under Republic Act 10591 or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulations Act of 2013 and RA 9516 or illegal possession of explosives.

“Ilabas natin ang ating trabaho sa apat na kanto ng ating opisina at sa halip, ihanay natin into sa program ng PNP, DILG at ng gobyerno,” he said.

“If I fail to deliver these commitments within six months or before the scheduled barangay election, I will voluntarily relinquish my position.

Thus, I will need your support,” the official told his men.

Brig. Gen. Silo said he will discuss and measure what a ‘significant reduction’ means during his 1stcommand conference.

The official who joined the PNP Officers’ Corps in 1991 waxed sentimental when he assumed his new post after a sterling performance at the PRO11 where he was its regional director from March 1, 2022 until this week. He will retire on June 6, 2025.

“I have a favorite song entitled ‘Saranggola sa Ulan.” Ito ay isang love song patungkol sa imposibleng pag-ibig pero naniniwala siya na walang imposible sa tatlong bagay, which a portion of the lyrics says: Tatlong bagay ang aking natutunan: ang pag-asa’y walang hanggan, pag-ibig ay walang hadlang, at lilipad ang saranggola sa ulan,” he said.

“I’d like to relate it to my life experience. I came from a very humble and big family, where we make life ends meet. But somehow, with the meager income of my mother as a teacher and a father who worked with insurance, we managed to survive,” the official explained.

“I was determined to improve my life so I became an officer and a lawyer. But I didn’t expect to become one of the key officers of the PNP.

Because of my endless hope and love for my family and service, I conquered the rains (challenges) in life,” he added.

Brig. Gen. Silo thanked the Lord Almighty for giving him the opportunity to be of service to others.

He also expressed his gratitude to Gen. Azurin, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ C. Abalos Jr., Special Assistant to the President, Sec. Anton Lagdameo, Presidential Assistant for Eastern Mindanao, Sec. Leo Magno, Ombudsman Samuel R. Martires and National Security Adviser Eduardo M. Año for guiding him all the way amid the different challenges life has to offer.

Brig. Gen. Silo also had these words to say to his new subordinates.” I’d like to share with you that during my stint as Regional Director of PRO11, the entire Police Regional Office 11 was able to garner 90 percent or an outstanding result in terms of public trust, respect and safety index in a survey conducted by the Mindanao Development Authority.”

“I want to challenge you to surpass, if not replicate this outstanding feat of the PRO11 police,” he said as he called on his men to further raise the bar of police service.

According to the official, they need to maintain the trust and respect of the citizenry as they continue to be a main frontline service provider of the national police force.

“Let us help each other and be a team that will contribute to the accomplishments of the CSG’s mission and the entire Philippine National Police,” he said.

Promising to offer a kind of leadership that provides direction and motivation for all his men specifically the non-commissioned officers and non-uniformed personnel, Brig. Gen. silo expressed hope that they will be able to carry out their duties and responsibilities with all sincerity and dedication.

Lastly, the lawyer-police general reminded his personnel to bear in their minds that “I am always fair in all my dealings; I am part of the team that investigated the AK-47 and Werfast controversies; I am formerly the chief investigator of the PNP-CIDG and the Regional Chief of CIDG Bicol Region and Central Luzon; my forte is investigation.”