Woman general named Eastern Police District chief

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa appointed yesterday as director of the Eastern Police District (EPD) the second female general in the police force, making her the first woman to head what many consider a sensitive position.

Verzosa’s first directive to newly designated EPD director Chief Superintendent Lina Sarmiento is to investigate and solve an attempt on the life of Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Assistant Secretary Elmer Soneja.

“Since Gen. Sarmiento is now the EPD director, her first task is to investigate the attack on DOTC Asec. Soneja, identify the attackers and bring them to the bar of justice,” Verzosa said.

Sarmiento is one of the senior officials affected by the latest revamp in the police force.

Sarmiento replaced Chief Superintendent Lino Calingasan, who was named the new director of the Police Security and Protection Group, a position vacated by Chief Superintendent Josefino Cataluña, who was assigned as new commander of the Central Mindanao police.

Verzosa said the revamp was triggered by the leave of absence and subsequent relief of Chief Superintendent Fidel Cimatu as Central Mindanao Region Police director.

Cimatu was earlier sacked from his post following the case of alleged rape of a female police applicant by his two police security escorts inside the Central Mindanao police headquarters in General Santos City.

Verzosa said the position of the regional director of Central Mindanao should be filled up because that is a very significant area in terms of security.

Aside from Sarmiento, Calingasan and Cataluña, the reshuffle include PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome, who will be appointed chief of the Police Community Relations Group.

Verzosa said Bartolome was replaced by Senior Superintendent Leonardo Espina as the PNP spokesman.

Espina’s position as chief of the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response will be given to Senior Superintendent Isagani Nerez, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-National Capital Region.

Espina, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1981, served as PNP spokesman during the time of retired PNP chief Leandro Mendoza.