9 police chiefs relieved in major PNP revamp in N.Ecija

CABANATUAN CITY - Nine police station commanders were relieved in a major revamp of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Nueva Ecija, including one who has barely occupied his seat before the elections.

Affected in the reshuffle ordered by the provincial police command were the police station commanders of Gapan City and the municipalities of Gabaldon, Gen. Tinio, Jaen, Llanera, Pantabangan, Rizal, San Antonio and Sta. Rosa.

Relieved were Senior Superintendent Jerome Pagaragan (Gapan City), Superintendent Peter Guibong (Sta. Rosa), Chief Inspectors Miguelito San Pedro (Rizal), Elsa Miranda (San Antonio) and Danilo delos Santos (Gen. Tinio), Senior Inspector George Santiago (Jaen), Inspectors Reulito Barcelo (Pantabangan) and Danilo Zulueta (Gabaldon).

Pagaragan was replaced by Santos while Guibong by Superintendent Rufino Escote. Pagaragan just assumed his post before the May 10 polls.

San Pedro, who was appointed officer-in-charge in Jaen, was replaced by delos Santos, Miranda by Chief Inspector Danilo Fernando and Santos by Santiago.

Barcelo, the designated OIC in Llanera, was replaced by Senior Inspector Benjamin Tuloza while Zulueta by Inspector Nemencio Atendido.

Miranda was reassigned to the provincial police headquarters.

Senior Superintendent Luisito Palmera, provincial police director, downplayed the revamp, saying it was routine procedure at the PNP. However, the shakedown was believed triggered partly by the decision of newly elected mayors to exercise their prerogative to choose their station commanders in their respective localities.

Three of the police station commanders were assigned in areas with new mayors - Rizal, Gen. Tinio and Jaen.

Under Republic Act 6975, the law that created the PNP, mayors have the power to choose their station commanders from five recommendees of the provincial director.

In Jaen, newly elected Mayor Antonio Esquivel has indicated his desire to replace Santiago even before his victory in the May 10 polls.