Major revamp in PNP looms

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — The Philippine National Police (PNP) hierarchy will be facing a top-to-bottom revamp next month as several of its top officials are set to hang up their uniforms, the PNP chief announced here yesterday.

"There will be a reshuffle and replacement due to the retirement of top police officials next month," said PNP Director General Arturo Lomibao last Wednesday during the blessing of a building at this camp.

Lomibao cited the retirement of police Deputy Director General Ricardo de Leon, PNP deputy director for administration.

De Leon, a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class ’71, leaves the service when he reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56 next month.

Another top police official also due for retirement is Director Quirino de la Torre, chief directorate for comptrollership.

However, Lomibao, who motored here Wednesday instead of flying, as part of the PNP’s energy conservation program, assured the rank and file that Central Luzon police director Chief Supt. Alejandro Lapinid would remain in his post for another six months.

"I’m giving (Lapinid) another six months," Lomibao said before a crowd of civilian employees and policemen in his speech right after the blessing and inauguration of the newly renovated PRO3 gymnasium.

Lapinid, who is eligible for a Career Senior Executive Examination, is being groomed to replace Police Director Isidro Lapeña, head of the directorate for operations at the National Police Headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, being the only senior officer qualified to be promoted to the next higher rank, highly-placed sources revealed. 

Sources here said Lapinid was already due for promotion one rank higher, and it’s possible for him to get another star rank in Region 3 before he is assigned to higher headquarters. — Ric Sapnu