Pnoy replaces feuding PNPA and PPSC heads

MANILA, Philippines - After expressing his unhappiness over the feud between the leaderships of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) and the Philippine Public Safety College (PPSC), President Aquino has ordered the replacements of Chief Supt. Noel Constantino and Ruben Platon as PNPA director and PPSC president, respectively.

Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Chief Supt. Reuben Theodore Sindac confirmed that Constantino and Platon stepped down from their respectives posts on orders from the President last April 3.

Sindac said Constantino was replaced as PNPA director by Chief Supt. Armando Ramolete, former deputy director of the PNP's Directorate for Personnel and Records Management. Sindac said Constantino will take over Ramolete's previous post at the DPRM.

Platon meanwhile was reportedly replaced by retired police Deputy Director General Ricardo de Leon, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1971 and a former president of the Mindanao State University and former vice president of the Centro Escolar University.

Sindac said Constantino was relieved as PNPA director due to the "normal termination" of his detail following an extension of six months.

"His detail has terminated and he is reassigned back to his former post as deputy director, DPRM in NHQ (national headquarters), PNP," said Sindac in a text message.

Constantino had served as PNPA director since April 11, 2013. Constantino's term was supposed to have ended last Oct. 3 but was extended by six months, Sindac said.

During the graduation rites of the PNPA's "Mandilaab Class of 2014" last March 31 in Silang, Cavite, the President said he was "not happy" about the feud between the leadership of the PNPA and the PPSC which exercises administrative supervision over the police academy.

“Can I take this opportunity to remind all the stakeholders involved here that you all have one mission: to take good care of the cadets, train them well, and that you all should lead by example,” he told an informal news briefing at the PNPA grounds.

“This squabble has been here for a long time and I’m not happy about it. The objective of these two institutions is to make sure that only the best are trained to become cadets, and that these two should not devote their time bickering,” he added.

He said the PNPA and the PPSC should “help each other correct the mistakes and problems,” adding that “an action” on reports of the feud is forthcoming.

Aquino was referring to the rift between Platon and Constantino, and Platon’s exclusion from activities during the PNPA graduation rites.

The rift reportedly started when Constantino ordered the dismantling of at least 20 stalls inside the school grounds in November 2013.