New PIO for PNP takes over today

PNP chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. Razon has appointed Senior Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome as the new spokesman of the PNP, a day before New Year, replacing Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr.

Pagdilao, a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class ’79, will be assigned as deputy regional director of Western Visayas (Region 6). Bartolome, on the other hand, is PMA Class ’80 graduate.

But sources said the assignment of Pagdilao as No. 2 man in Western Visayas is temporary pending the retirement of Region 6 director Chief Superintendent Wilfredo Dulay.

Dulay, who belonged to PMA Class ’75, will retire on Feb. 14 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.

“The re-assignment of Pagdilao and Bartolome has been approved early part of December but the PNP leadership decided to let the holiday pass before the movement is implemented,” the source added.

It will not be the first time that Bartolome will serve as chief of the Public Information Office (PIO). He was the PIO top honcho during the term of former PNP chief now Sen. Panfilo Lacson in 1999 to 2001.

Before his re-appointment to PIO, Bartolome was provincial police director in Tarlac province.

While in Tarlac, he supervised the investigation of high-profile cases, including the murder of Aglipayan bishop Alberto Ramento in 2006. Investigators maintained that the case was robbery after three suspected robbers were arrested in possession of the bishop’s belongings.

Aglipayan religious leaders maintained that Ramento’s criticism of President Arroyo’s administration might have something to do with the murder.

As Tarlac police provincial director, Bartolome bagged the Best Senior Police Commissioned Officer (PCO) during the PNP’s 16th anniversary last January.

Some police officers, however, questioned the pending appointment of Pagdilao as a regional director of Region 6. He is one of the youngest generals in the PNP.

“There are other police generals belonging to the upper class of ’77 and ’78 who should be given appointment as regional director before him (Pagdilao),” the source said.

Pagdilao, who was also the man behind the weekly forum Takayan sa Isyu ng Pulis (TSIP) every Tuesday morning at the PNP Multi-Purpose Hall. TSIP is aired on NBN-Channel 4 at 8 p.m. Tuesdays.

The STAR learned that P10-million PNP radio station project is a brainchild of Pagdilao and Razon has been trying to work out its implementation.