Police Lieutenant Colonel (PLT. COL.) Patrich Elma has officially taken over as the new chief of the Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU) in General Santos City, replacing the retiring PLT. COL. Joel Fuerte.
The turnover of command was led by Police Colonel (PCOL.) Nicomedes Olaivar Jr., Director of the General Santos City Police Office (GSCPO), in a ceremony that formalized Elma’s assumption of office.
In his message, Elma emphasized that his administration’s top priority will be the implementation of programs and measures to ensure the safety of motorists.
He noted that General Santos currently records the highest number of traffic accidents in the region, making road safety an urgent concern.
“We will focus on initiatives that protect our motorists and reduce accidents. Safety must always come first, and our role is to make sure drivers and commuters feel secure on our roads,” Elma said.
PCOL. Olaivar expressed his confidence in Elma’s leadership, stressing that the new TEU chief is capable of instituting effective steps to address the city’s alarming road crash statistics. “We place our hope and trust in PLT. COL. Elma to introduce reforms and programs that will significantly lessen road accidents in the city,” Olaivar stated.
Elma, for his part, assured the public that under his leadership, the TEU will intensify its efforts in enforcing traffic rules, conducting safety awareness campaigns, and implementing stricter measures to discipline erring motorists.
With General Santos facing one of the highest accident rates in Mindanao, stakeholders and motorists alike are looking forward to the changes that Elma’s leadership will bring.
