Mantele named new EPD director

MANILA, Philippines - The Eastern Police District will have a new district director tomorrow in the person of Chief Superintendent Benjardi Mantele.

Mantele will replace Chief Superintendent Lino Calingasan who will be promoted to head the Caraga region.

A product of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class ’80, Mantele would assume command of the EPD after a simple turnover ceremony at the EPD headquarters along Caruncho Ave., in Pasig City at 3 p.m. tomorrow.

Metro police director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales confirmed the appointment of Mantele to the EPD. Prior to his new assignment, Mantele was the Chief of Directorial Staff of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) in Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City. He was a former chief of police of Caloocan City and the provincial director of the Cavite police.

Rosales said Mantele would be replaced by Senior Superintendent Mike Laurel, the deputy director for administration of the Manila Police District. Laurel is a member of PMA Class ’82.

The reshuffle at the NCRPO was triggered by the retirement of Director German Doria on July 31. Doria would be replaced by Director Leopoldo Bataoil at the Directorate for Police Community Relations while his post as head of the Directorate for Integrated Police Office North (DIPO North) would be taken over by Director Silverio Alarcio.

Alarcio’s post at the DIPO South will be assumed by Chief Superintendent Eric Javier who will be replaced by Chief Superintendent Jaime Milla as head of the DIPO Eastern Mindanao.

Calingasan will replace Milla as Caraga police director. Bataoil and Alarcio are members of PMA Class ’76 with PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa as their classmate, while Calingasan and Milla are from PMA Class ’77. Javier is a graduate of the West Point Academy in the US.