PNP chief OKs revamp

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome has approved the latest reshuffle in the police force following the retirement of officers who have reached the mandatory retirement age of 56.

While Bartolome has signed the transfer of some key police officers, he has yet to issue instructions on the appointment of the Southern Police District (SPD) director.

Candidates for the SPD post are Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona, deputy chief for administration of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and commander of the Task Force Maguindanao; Chief Superintendent Charles Calima; Senior Superintendent Federico Castro; and Senior Superintendent Arrazad Subong.

Although Estipona and Calima have the edge because of their seniority, Castro is reportedly leading the race due to his close affiliation with the sisters of President Aquino.

Subong is presently the acting SPD chief.

Bartolome designated Chief Superintendent Lina Sarmiento as the new chief of the Directorate for Police Community Relations (DPCR), the PNP unit in charge of programs to bring the police closer to the community.

Sarmiento’s former position will be given to Chief Superintendent Wilhelm Barlis.

Bartolome also installed Chief Superintendent Miguel Laurel as the new director of Eastern Police District (EPD), replacing Chief Superintendent Francisco Manalo Jr., who retired yesterday.

Another revamp will be implemented in the PNP within the week as Director Leocadio Santiago Jr. of the Directorate for Operations (DO) retires on March 16.

Reports said that Santiago’s possible replacement is Director Samuel Diciano, presently the PNP-Director for Investigation and Detective Management. Barring hitches, Diciano is likely to take over as the DO chief today. – Cecille Suerte Felipe, Non Alquitran