Colonel George Ylanan has officially resumed his duties as the officer-in-charge of the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO), marking a significant leadership change in the city's law enforcement. The appointment, which took effect on Friday, November 14, 2025, comes with the full endorsement of Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival.
New Leadership and Strategic Shift
Mayor Archival has pledged substantial support for Ylanan's initiatives, promising new mobility resources that include motorcycles and potentially electric vehicles to enhance police operations. This commitment signals strong local government backing for the incoming police chief's vision.
Colonel Ylanan, a Cebu native, immediately outlined his ambitious goal to transform the CCPO into what he describes as a "full proactive mode" organization. His philosophy centers on crime prevention rather than reaction. "We aim to prevent crime before it happens so we will have nothing to solve," Ylanan stated, emphasizing that his ultimate objective is to make every Cebuano "feel safe" beyond mere statistical improvements.
Comprehensive Anti-Crime Strategy
The newly appointed officer-in-charge revealed a multi-faceted approach to public safety that includes:
- Aggressive operations including Oplan Bakal-Sita targeting illegal firearms
- Oplan Bulabog focusing on high-risk communities through profiling, targeted patrols, and arrests
- Intensified anti-drug initiatives to combat narcotics trafficking
- Maximum patrol visibility across the city to deter criminal activity
With the holiday season approaching, Ylanan also plans special security measures including the potential return of bicycle patrols in tourist-heavy areas. These preparations will extend through the Christmas season and the upcoming Sinulog Festival in January 2026.
Controversial Background and Past Incidents
Ylanan's return to a top position in Cebu City law enforcement comes despite a controversial professional history. He was part of the Police Regional Office 7 team responsible for the 2016 operation that resulted in the death of suspected drug lord Jeffrey "Jaguar" Diaz. At that time, Ylanan headed the Regional Special Operations Group 7, working alongside Colonel Rex Derilo's Regional 7 Intelligence Division to track Diaz in Metro Manila.
The same year brought serious allegations when self-confessed drug personality Franz Sabalones identified Ylanan as a "drug protector," leading to his relief from PRO 7 duties.
Earlier in his career, in 2011, while serving as a major and head of CCPO's Investigation and Detective Management Branch, Ylanan fired a warning shot during a traffic incident in Barangay Tisa. He claimed he believed his vehicle was being ambushed when a taxi blocked his car, though the taxi driver contested this version of events, asserting that Ylanan had actually blocked his path.
Despite these past controversies, Ylanan now assumes leadership of the Cebu City Police Office with a mandate to implement his proactive crime prevention strategy and improve public safety throughout the city.
