The former head of the Philippine National Police (PNP) anti-drugs group was named as the new director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in a major revamp that affected 23 senior police officers.
The reshuffle was implemented due to the looming retirement of some senior officers in the police organization.
Police Brig. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro, who used to be the director of the Central Visayas regional police, was named as the CIDG director effective Jan. 30, replacing Police Major Gen. Joel Napoleon Coronel who is set to retire on Feb. 11.
Ferro was the head of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Group when it was dissolved due to the controversy from the killing of South Korean executive Jee Ick Joo. He is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1989.
PNP chief Police Gen. Debold Sinas also named Police Major Gen. Dennis Agustin as the head of the Directorate for Intelligence. He replaced Police Major Gen. Clifton Empiso who is set to retire on Feb. 6.
Police Brig. Gen. Luisito Magnaye took the helm of the PNP Health Service. He replaced Police Brig. Gen. Nolasco Bathan who reached the mandatory retirement age of 56 on Jan. 31.
Police sources said the revamp was due to the policy effected by Sinas to replace retiring PNP senior officials at least a week before their retirement to pave the way for a healthy transition of power. This was the case of Coronel and Empiso who were assigned to the Office of the Chief PNP which technically turned them into a Non-Duty Status.
“We are infusing new blood into the command structure to fill the void created by the retirement of some senior officials and ensure continuity of command,” said Sinas.
METRO MANILA TOP OFFICIALS
Police Brig. Gen. Eliseo Cruz was named as the new director of the Southern Police District which covers the cities of Parañaque, Pasay, Makati, Taguig, and Las Piñas, and the municipality of Pateros.
Police Brig. Gen. Nelson Bondoc was appointed as the new district director of the Northern Police District which covers Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela cities.
Other senior officers assigned in Metro Manila were Police Brig. Gen. Antonio Yarra as deputy regional director for administration of the National Capital Region Police Office and Police Brig. Gen. Benjamin Acorda as deputy regional director for operations of the NCRPO.
REGIONAL POSTS
Police Brig. Gen. Emannuel Peralta, formerly assigned to the Southern Police District who was replaced by Cruz, is now the regional director of Police Regional Office 1 or the Ilocos region. He replaced Police Brig. Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, whose appointment as the new head of the Directorate for Information and Communication Technology Management (DICTM) will enable him earn a promotion to two-star rank.
Police Brig. Gen. Celso Bael was named as the No. 2 man of the MIMAROPA (Mindoro Oriental and Occidental, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan) regional police and Police Col. Ronaldo Cabral also assumed the same position for the Police Regional Office 10 or Northern Mindanao.
Police Brig. Gen. Walter Pornillos was named as the deputy regional director for administration in the Bangsamoro Administration Region in Muslim Mindanao police which is also the same position given to Police Col. Victor Wanchakan for the Police Regional Office 9.
MORE REVAMP
Police Brig. Gen. Domingo Lucas was named as the new Director for Research and Development (DRD) while Police Brig. Gen. Florencio Ortilla was designated as the new head of the Aviation Security Group.
Police Brig. Gen. Jon Arnaldo was named as the executive officer of the Directorate for Intelligence while Police Col. Tellio C. Ngis-O was appointed as acting deputy director of the Special Action Force.
Police Col. John Guygoyon is the acting executive officer of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management while Police Col. Angeles Geñorga Jr. as acting Dean of Academics of the PNP Academy in Silang, Cavite.
Police Brig. Gen. Ronaldo Llanera now heads the Explosive and Ordnance Division and Canine Group while Police Brig. Gen. Samuel Nacion is deputy director of the National Police Training Institute.
Police Col. Victor Valencia is now the acting executive officer of the Directorate for Research and Development while Police Col. Robert Gallardo is acting chief of the Legislative Affairs Center of the Directorate for Plans.
