PNP revamp: 32 officers affected

With a little over six months to go before the May 2004 elections, at least 32 key positions at the Philippine National Police (PNP) were affected in a major revamp that was implemented yesterday.

The move caught a majority of the 32 police officers occupying those posts by surprise because they were not even notified.

Last night, sources said President Arroyo scolded PNP chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. for the unauthorized annoucement of the revamp.

Director Enrique Galang was designated chief of the Directorial Staff, making him the No. 4 man in the PNP.

PNP officials affected by the revamp cannot question their transfer because movement of police officers is barred by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) six months prior to any election.

Controversial Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) head Chief Superintendent Eduardo Matillano, a nemesis of Sen. Panfilo Lacson, was reassigned to the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM).

Another Lacson nemesis, Chief Superintendent Reynaldo Berroya, was sacked from the PNP Civil Security Group. It was not clear where Berroya will be transferred, although there are reports he will seek optional retirement and occupy a sensitive post at the Bureau of Customs (BOC).

In a statement, Ebdane announced the reorganization of personnel occupying several key posts at the Command Group directorial staff, national support units and regional police offices.

The new designations were contained in General Orders Nos. 1429 to 1434 issued by Ebdane and which took effect yesterday.

Director Ricardo de Leon was designated the head of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), replacing Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco, who was transferred to the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime (PCTC).

At the NCRPO, the Eastern and Southern police districts got new chiefs. Former Police Community Relations Group head Chief Superintendent Oscar Valenzuela was assigned to the Southern Police District (SPD), while Chief Superintendent Prospero Noble was assigned to the Eastern Police District.

Central Visayas regional police head Chief Superintendent Roberto Delfin was returned to his former post as chief of the PNP Directorate for Intelligence at Camp Crame while Chief Superintendent Arturo Lomibao was designated CIDG chief, replacing Matillano.

"The reorganization is meant to ensure a well-rounded career pattern for senior PNP officers in command, staff and special functions," Ebdane said.

The other reassignments in the PNP revamp include the transfers of‘ Chief Superintendent Marcelo Navarro, from Western Visayas to Human Resource and Doctrine Development (HRDD); Chief Superintendent Victor Luga, from the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) to Police Community Relations (PCR); Director Avelino Razon from HRDD to Directorate for Operations; Chief Superintendent George Aliño to Western Visayas; Chief Superintendent Reynaldo Varilla from Western Mindanao to the Calabarzon police office; Chief Superintendent Servando Hizon from the Special Action Force (SAF) to Western Mindanao; Chief Superintendent Rowland Albano to the CAR; Chief Superintendent Jaime Caringal to Central Mindanao; Chief Superintendent Jesus Versoza as DIDM deputy director.

Also moved from their posts were Chief Superintendent Antonio Billones from deputy regional director for Operations to the NCRPO; Chief Superintendent Jose Gutierrez to the finance service, Chief Superintendent Rolando Sacramento to the Police Security and Protection Office, Chief Superintendent Ricardo Quinto to logistics; Chief Superintendents Marcelo Ele to legal service and Chief Superintendent Doroteo Reyes to Southern Mindanao.

Senior Superintendent Ricardo Dapat was moved to the maritime group, Senior Superintendent Augusto Angcanan is now deputy director for the Directorate for Research and Development, Senior Superintendent Geary Barias was assigned to the Headquarters Support Service; Senior Superintendent Ismael Rafanan is now the director of the Intelligence Group; Senior Superintendent Silverio Alarico Jr. has been assigned to the SAF; Senior Superintendent Joel Goltiao was moved to the public information office; and Senior Superintendent Alex Monteagudo was reassigned to the Firearms and Explosives Office.