SIX star-rank officials were named to new positions of major responsibility effective yesterday by Philippine National Police chief General Rommel Francisco Marbil in the wake of the retirement of some of their colleagues.

The latest reorganization ordered by Gen. Marbil saw Lieutenant Gen. Jonnel Estomo being moved to the Area Police Command-Southern Luzon from the APC-Western Mindanao.

Estomo was replaced by his classmate from Philippine Military Academy ‘Tanglaw-Diwa’ Class of 1992, Major Gen. Bernard Banac as APC-Western Mindanao commander.

On the other hand, erstwhile APC-Northern Luzon vice commander Maj. Gen. Mafelino Bazar, also of PMA Class 1992, was designated as the new director of the PNP Directorate for Information and Communications Technology Management.

At the same time, Brigadier Gen. Roderick Augustus Alba of PNP Academy ‘Tagapagpatupad’ Class of 1992 was named as the new PNP Director for Police-Community Relations vice Maj. Gen. Banac.

Alba, a former PNP spokesperson and chief of the PNP Public Information Office, will get his 2nd-star with his new rank. He was replaced as PNP Deputy Director for Human Resource and Doctrine Development by his PNPA classmate Brig. Gen. Jerich Royales.

A member of PNPA ‘Sandigan’ Class of 1994, Brig. Gen. Neri Vincent D. Ignacio, the erstwhile PNP Deputy Director for Logistics was designated as the new deputy director of the PNP Directorate for Comptrollership.

The Journal earlier reported that more changes in key PNP officers are in the offing with the retirement of a number of senior officials last week and a few months from now.

Lt. Gen. Rhoderick Armamento and Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza have reached the age of 56 on Friday and left the APC-Southern Luzon and DICTM respectively.

Nobleza took over as DICTM chief last March 26 after being relieved as director of the Bangsamoro Administrative Region-Police Regional Office. He did not get his 2nd-star as he has less than a year left in the service then.

Another officer who retired last week was Brig. Gen. Niño David Rabaya, the former PNP Deputy Director for Comptrollership.

Armamento is a member of PNPA Class 1990 while Nobleza is from PNPA Class 1991. Rabaya is a member of PNPA Class 1993.

Prior to the retirement of the three, Gen. Marbil has named Brig. Gen. Ponce Rogelio Peñones Jr. as the new Deputy Regional Director for Operations of the National Capital Region Police Office; Brig. Gen. Wilson Soliba as new director of the PNP Logistics Support Service; and Col. Warren Gaspar Tolito as the new director of the PNP Communications and Electronics Service.

Peñones is a member of PNPA Class 1995, Soliba is from PNPA Class 1993 while Tolito is from PNPA Class 1996.

Also named as new National Police Training Institute chief vice Maj. Gen. Ritchie Medardo Posadas who retired last June 8 was Brig. Gen. John Chua, the erstwhile APC-Visayas deputy commander. Posadas is a product of Philippine Military Academy Class 1990 while Chua belongs to PNPA Class 1.992

Col. Edwin Quilates, another PNPA Class 1995 member was also designated as the new PNP Information Technology Management Service director, a position that will earn the latter his star-rank.