Gaerlan assumed his post last Tuesday after a brief turnover ceremony presided by Metro police chief Director Vidal Querol at the Marikina City police headquarters.
He replaced Senior Superintendent Felipe Rojas Jr., who joined Querol’s team as intelligence chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).
Gaerlan, the topnotcher of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class ’85, became the first police chief to be installed by Querol during his two-week stint at the NCRPO.
The turnover ceremony was attended by City Mayor Maria Lourdes Fernando and top officials from City Hall, the Marikina City police and the Eastern Police District (EPD).
EPD director Chief Superintendent Oscar Valenzuela directed Gaerlan to work closely with the local city executives, the city peace and order council and the community in addressing the peace and order problems of Marikina.
"I want him to maintain the city’s status as the model for peace and order in Metro Manila," Valenzuela told The STAR.
Under the leadership of Rojas, the Marikina City police was adjudged the Best Police Station in Metro Manila in the last two years.
Gaerlan joined the camp of former President Fidel Ramos as an aide right after graduating from the PMA, where he garnered the record-breaking 14 awards.
When Ramos’ six-year term was over, he returned to the mainstream of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and assumed command of various posts, including the Office of the Businessman’s Concern (OBC) of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). His latest assignment prior to his being named as Marikina City police chief was as head of the Regional Intelligence and Special Operations Office (RISOO) during the time of Querol’s predecessor Deputy Director General Avelino Razon Jr. — Non Alquitran