MAJOR General Mario A. Reyes has assumed his new role as the Top Logistician of the Philippine National Police, a position he dreamt of since his much younger days and one which prompted him to say he really ‘made it through the rain.’

“This is a celebration of life’s achievements. There is nothing more joyful than being faced with challenges and overcoming them,” the member of Philippine Military Academy ‘Tanglaw-Diwa’ Class of 1992 said as he took over as PNP Director for Logistics on Friday last week.

Prior to that, Maj. Gen. Reyes was the PNP Director for Police-Community Relations since August 2022. The 53-year old official also used to be a director of the PNP Logistics Support Service and the Police Regional Office 5 in Bicol region.

“Never giving up means always moving forward despite what obstacles are thrown in front of you. I learned that you may not be the best or most talented at everything you do, but as long as you give your best—they will appreciate you. This Mantra led me to what and where I am today,” said Reyes who was one of the eight senior PNP officials named to new positions of major responsibility by PNP chief, General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. last June 26.

“I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity bestowed upon me to serve as the Director for Logistics. I am truly honored to have been entrusted with such a significant responsibility, and I pledge to approach it with dedication, integrity, and a commitment to excellence,” he added.

Maj. Gen. Reyes is one of the few ‘Ilocano police generals’ in the PNP at present. Retiring from the police force on December 1, 2024, he is no stranger to the logistics office of the PNP since he used to be assigned in the unit.

He was actually designated to the top PNP-DL post 13 days after erstwhile PNP-DL director, Maj. Gen. Ronaldo E. Olay of PMA ‘Bigkis-Lahi’ Class of 1990 retired. Olay’s classmate, Brig. Gen. Flynn E. Dongbo was designated as Officer-in-Charge of the PNP-DL following the retirement of the latter.

Incidentally, Dongbo is one of the youngest members of PMA Class 1990 in the PNP as he will retire from the force on July 12, 2024.

“As I transition to the role of Director for Logistics, I am reminded of the profound influence that fate plays in our lives. It is a force that guides us, shaping our paths and presenting us with opportunities for growth and fulfillment.

I firmly believe that it is not just coincidence that has led me to this new position but rather a predetermined course that has been intricately woven into the fabric of my life’s journey,” he said.

During his assumption speech, Maj. Gen. Reyes shared a quote which he said resonates with the concept of fate from an unknown author. “Fate whispers to the warrior, ‘You cannot withstand the storm.’ The warrior whispers back, ‘I am the storm.”

“Let this quote serve as a reminder that although fate may present challenges and uncertainties, we have the power within us to overcome and shape our destiny. Together, as we navigate the realm of logistics, let us embrace the storms that lie ahead with unwavering determination and resilience, knowing that our collective strength will guide us to success,” the new PNP-DL director said.

Maj. Gen. Reyes called on his officers and men to help him as they try to continue to make a significant impact and leave a lasting legacy of service and excellence in the police force.

He also took his sweet time to mention the lyrics of the famous Barry Manilow song ‘I Made It Through The Rain’ in his speech to show how he dreamt of someday becoming the PNP’s top logistics officer.

As the song says: “We dreamers have our ways, of facing rainy days, and somehow we survive. We keep the feelings warm, protect them from the storm until our time arrives. Then one day the sun appears, and we come shining through those lonely years. I made it through the rain, I kept my world protected, I kept my point of view, and found myself respected by the others who got rained on too and made it through.”

The new head of the PNP-DL thanked his wife and kids and the rest of his family, President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr.., Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ C. Abalos Jr., Gen. Acorda and members of the PNP Command Group during his assumption speech.

He also thanked former PNP chief, now retired Gen. Archie Francisco F. Gamboa for giving him the chance to work with the latter when Gamboa was still the PNP Director for Logistics.

The PNP-DL is the office principally tasked to ensure that the property accountability of a PNP personnel is strictly observed and properly enforced by the Supply Accountable Office and Responsible Supply Police Non-Commissioned Officer.

It is also the unit behind the purchase of world-class ‘move, shoot, communicate and investigate’ equipment for the 228,000-strong police force with the assurance they truly conform to government procurement standards.

They include top-of-the-line protective equipment for members of the force engaged in tactical operations specifically members of the PNP Special Action Force, Drug Enforcement Group, Anti-Kidnapping Group, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and beat patrollers who always face the prospect of being confronted by heavily-armed and merciless criminals every day.

The PNP’s Capability Enhancement Program allows it to procure brand-new items including pick-ups and patrol jeeps, troop carriers, pistols, automatic rifles and light machine guns, watercraft and aircrafts and other logistical equipment.

In the past, the PNP managed to acquire low-priced but high-quality armaments and other defense equipment thru the so-called ‘G2G or Government-to-Government Contract.

The huge amount saved for the government is the PNP’s share for best practices under Republic Act 9184 or An Act Providing for the Modernization, Standardization and Regulation of the Procurement Activities of the Government and for other Purposes,” otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act.

The PNP-DL past leaderships have assured that procured police equipment have passed strict quality tests. For one, the procured vests and helmets passed world-class tests and that during actual testing, they were checked for bullet penetrations or perforations as part of the PNP requirement.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon