New Central Luzon cop chief assumes post

MANILA,Philippines — Brig. Gen. Rodel Sermonia assumed his post yesterday as acting director of the Central Luzon police.

Philippine National Police (PNP) acting chief Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa led the turnover ceremony at Camp Olivas.

Sermonia, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1989, took over the post held by Brig. Gen. Joel Napoleon Coronel, who was promoted director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

Sermonia was former deputy director of the PNP Directorate for Police Community Relations (DPCR) and former head of the Police Community Relations Group.

Gamboa named Brig. Gen. Bartolome Bustamante as acting DPCR director.

At the Cagayan Valley police, newly installed director Brig. Gen. Angelito Casimiro Valley declared all key positions vacant. 

“The acting PNP chief... has given us three months to perform. I’m also giving all provincial directors as well as chiefs of police to prove that they deserve their position,” Casimiro told The STAR.

Casimiro, former director for logistics support service at Camp Crame, replaced Gen. Jose Mario Espino.