PNP chief bares revamp

Newly installed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Deputy Director General Edgar Aglipay announced yesterday a reshuffling of men in major posts at the Command Group and the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) as he officially took over from Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. yesterday.

Aglipay transferred NCRPO chief Director Ricardo de Leon to the Philippine Center for Trans-national Crimes (PCTC). Deputy Director General Virtus Gil was promoted to PNP deputy chief for administration, holding the second most powerful post at the PNP.

PCTC chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco, although the most senior among the group, replaced Gil as PNP deputy chief for operations.

PNP operations chief Director Avelino Razon was designated as the new NCRPO chief, replacing De Leon.

The movement is the first wave of changes initiated by Aglipay as new PNP chief, with majority of the key sensitive posts going to his classmates at the Philippine Military Academy. Aglipay, Gil, Velasco and De Leon came from PMA Class ’71.

Aglipay explained that De Leon’s transfer would enable him to get his third star rank equivalent to deputy director general at the PCTC, an oversight body directly under the Office of the President.

Southern Mindanao (Region 11) regional director Chief Superintendent Isidro Lapena was designated as PNP director for operations, replacing Razon.

After the turnover ceremonies attended by President Arroyo at Camp Crame yesterday morning, Aglipay immediately called his staff, regional directors and chiefs of national support units to a command conference.

He announced the impending promotion of five chief superintendents to directors. They are Quirino dela Torre (director for logistics), Simeon Dizon (director for research and development), Oscar Calderon (PNP comptrollership), Arturo Lomibao (Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) and Vidal Querol (Central Luzon).

De Leon and PNP chief for Directorial Staff Director Enrique Galang’s names were also submitted to the PNP Senior Officers Promotions and Placement Board (SOPPB) for promotion to a three-star rank.

Aglipay said he will focus his anti-criminality campaign on the arrest of wanted persons in the regional, provincial and city level.

On the anti-gambling front, the PNP chief said all the laws against illegal gambling will be implemented.

Aglipay warned all police commanders in ensuring that his orders, specifically against kotong cops and other erring men in uniform will be strictly implemented. Violators will be shipped to Corregidor to undergo reformatory training.

"The government has given me the mandate. I will exercise my mandate. I shall and I will," Aglipay said.