Top PNP generals told to resign

Police generals holding important positions in the Philippine National Police were asked to resign yesterday and allow new PNP chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane to implement a sweeping revamp in the organization.

Sources said the move to ask ranking PNP officials to file courtesy resignation letters was spearheaded by Director Virtus Gil, chief of the PNP’s Directorate for Records and Personnel Management.

The sources said the move has further divided the already splintered PNP.

A PNP official, who asked not to be named, revealed that Deputy Director Generals Edgar Galvante and Rex Piad, chief of the directorial staff and assistant chief for operations, respectively, were irritated when presented with prepared resignation letters at their offices yesterday.

"You don’t do this to a three-star general!" an irked Galvante was quoted as saying in declining to sign the letter.

Also asked to step down Ebdane were Deputy Director Generals Cecillio Penilla and Reynaldo Velasco, the PNP’s logistics chief and comptroller, respectively.

The others who were asked to sign similar letters were Directors Hercules Cataluña of intelligence, Ricardo de Leon of operations, Florencio Fianza of human resources, Victor Signey of research and development, and Lucas Managuelod of investigation and detection.

One official said the move to force them to resign was not new. "It was not unprecedented because such is expected from the PNP chief," he said. However, the official complained that "there is something wrong with the manner they wanted this done. It is insulting."

Other officials noted that as a matter of procedure, the new PNP chief can ask any officer to step down, but he should not force them.

"This is the first time this happened in the entire police organization," said one official.

Gil and other officials perceived to be on the side of Ebdane readily signed their resignation letters.

According to some affected officials who also received copies of the letter, the courtesy resignation indicated that those who would sign it are giving the present PNP leadership a free hand to revamp the organization.

Ebdane assumed the top PNP post last week. After he was officially named acting PNP chief, he met with at least 30 regional and provincial commanders to address their concern over the relief of seven police generals by Interior Secretary Jose Lina for their alleged failure to curb the illegal numbers game jueteng in their areas of jurisdiction.

In an interview yesterday, Ebdane said he would rather have the resignation letters of the 30 affected regional and provincial commanders on his table to decide on their fate.

"I met with all of them last night, and it is their desire to render courtesy resignations to give the new administration a free hand in the reorganization," he said.