Rumored Verzosa successor gets 3rd star

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino approved the promotion to three-star rank of the Philippine National Police’s No. 4 man and rumored successor of PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa Tuesday night.

Verzosa inducted Deputy Director General Raul Bacalzo in the office of the PNP chief at Camp Crame in Quezon City the following night.

PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Agrimero Cruz Jr. said Bacalzo’s promotion was signed by Mr. Aquino last Aug. 9.

Bacalzo is the third three-star general in the PNP, the two being Deputy Director General Jefferson Soriano and Deputy Director General Perfecto Palad. Soriano is the Deputy Chief for Administration (DCA), the No. 2 man in the PNP and Palad is the Deputy Chief for Operations (DCO), the No. 3 man in the police force.

Verzosa, who belongs to Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class ‘76, announced his intention to retire ahead of his 56th birthday on Dec. 25, but has yet to announce the exact date of his retirement. Talk within Camp Crame have it that Bacalzo, of PMA Class ‘77, will replace him.

Soriano, however, announced his plans to retire on Aug. 15, or three months ahead of his 56th birthday and his mandatory retirement from the PNP. His retirement rites are set for today.

Aside from Soriano, Director Eric Javier, head of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (DIPO), will also retire within the week and his retirement honors will be held today.

The retirement of Soriano and Javier will trigger another wave of reshuffles in the PNP, and there are 40 star-rank police officials who are set to retire this year.

Initial reports indicate Soriano will be replaced by Palad, while Palad’s position will be taken over by Bacalzo. The position to be vacated by Bacalzo will be given to Director Benjamin Belarmino.

Javier’s position will be given to Chief Superintendent Rolando Añonuevo, the director of Calabarzon Regional Police, which will be occupied by Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome, now chief of the Police Community Relations Group (PCRG).