The seven top police officers sacked over their reported failure to curb jueteng within their areas of jurisdiction were finally replaced yesterday in simultaneous turnovers of command.
Philippine National Police Deputy Director General Edgar Aglipay formally relinquished his concurrent post as National Capital Region Police Office chief to PNP Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco in a simple turnover of command at the NCRPO office.
Velasco and Aglipay both belong to the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1971.
PNP Director Victor Signey, former chief of the PNP Directorate for Research and Development (DRD) took over Velasco’s post as chief of the PNP Directorate for Comptrollership. Signey’s position at the PNP-DRD was assumed by Chief Superintendent Alexander Belen.
Chief Superintendent Reynaldo Berroya, Central Luzon police chief, was replaced by Chief Superintendent Oscar Calderon, former deputy chief of the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM).
Southern Tagalog police regional office chief Director Domingo Reyes was replaced in an acting capacity by his deputy, Senior Superintendent Medardo Apacible.
Central Visayas police chief Director Avelino Razon was succeeded by Senior Superintendent Alejandro Lapinid, who takes over from Razon in an acting capacity as well.
According to the PNP, new assignments for Aglipay, Berroya, Reyes and Razon are still under study. However, reports reaching The STAR indicate that they are being groomed to assume key positions at the PNP national headquarters at Camp Crame.
In the meantime, the PNP Directorate for Personnel headed by Director Virtus Gil required the four to report to the PNP Headquarters Support Service, where PNP officials on "floating" status report until they are reassigned.
Senior Superintendent Arnulfo Espiritu, meanwhile, replaced Laguna police provincial commander Senior Superintendent Leonilo de la Cruz.
Cebu Provincial director Senior Superintendent Antonio Salvacion was replaced by Senior Superintendent Maximo Calimlim.
Western Police District (WPD) head Chief Superintendent Nicolas Pasinos was replaced by his deputy, Senior Superintendent Pedro Bulaong, who will act as officer-in-charge of WPD until a permanent replacement is found for Pasinos.
Aglipay, Berroya, Reyes, Razon, De la Cruz, Pasinos and Salvacion were ordered relieved last month in an en banc resolution of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) for failing to stop illegal gambling operations, especially jueteng, in their areas of command.
However, the relief of the sacked PNP brass could not be effected immediately due to the election law prohibition banning the transfer or assignment of any government official during the election period.
The new NCRPO chief said he sees his new assignment as the most challenging point of his three-decade career in law enforcement.
Besides being a part of the stellar PMA Class of ’71, 51-year-old Velasco has an outstanding track record as a commanding officer of the defunct Philippine Constabulary (PC). Velasco has led platoons and regional commands in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. He was promoted to his present post in April last year for his pivotal role in the PNP top brass’ withdrawal of support for former President Joseph Estrada.
Born on May 22, 1949, Velasco was the class valedictorian of the Daniel Maramba High School in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan in 1965 before joining the PMA. PMA alumni conferred Velasco with the Cavalier Award, the PMA mark of excellence all PMA students and alumni strive for. After graduating from the country’s premier military academy, Velasco joined the PC, where he underwent his baptism of fire.
As a young lieutenant, he defended the PC regional headquarters in Camp Parang, Maguindanao against marauding forces of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) in 1973.
Lina said the National Police Commission (Napolcom), which he chairs, would be tallying missed arrests of kidnappers and illegal drug traffickers as well.
Under the policy, any arrest made by the DILG’s Strike Force Jericho and other law enforcement agencies other than the police unit assigned in an area counts as one strike against the police official of the locality. Three successive arrests would be a ground for investigation or possible relief of the police official.
"Under the expanded policy, arrest of kidnappers and drug traffickers by Jericho can now be a ground for the relief of police officials," Lina said in an interview.
The policy had been the basis for the controversial relief of seven top police officials early this month. — With Mike Frialde, Perseus Echeminada