PHILIPPINE National Police Chief General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. has named two new Area Police Commanders (APCs) from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Sambisig” Class of 1991 this week, the Journal Group learned.

Lieutenant Gen. Patrick T. Villacorte is now the new Area Police Command (APC)-Visayas commander, while incoming Lt. Gen. Filmore B. Escobal has taken over as the new APC-Eastern Mindanao commander.

Villacorte, a former PNP Special Action Force (SAF) director, used to be the APC-Eastern Mindanao commander before he was designated to replace erstwhile APC-Visayas head, Lt. Gen. Michael John F. Dubria, who is now the acting Chief Directorial Staff of PNP.

Dubria also belongs to PMA Class 1991.

On the other hand, Escobal used to be the deputy of Lt. Gen. Rhodel O. Sermonia when he was still the APC-Visayas commander. Sermonia is now back as PNP Deputy Chief for Administration.

Escobal will be retiring on November 5 next year, while Villacorte will retire on November 28 of the same year.

A 3rd member of PMA Class 1991, Lt. Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr., who will be retiring on August 10, 2023, is currently the APC-Western Mindanao commander.

The commanders of the two other Area Police Commands, namely APC-Northern Luzon and APC-Southern Luzon, are Major Gen. Felipe R. Natividad and Maj. Gen. Rhoderick C. Armamento. Natividad is from PMA ‘Bigkis-Lahi” Class of 1990 while Armamento is from PNP Academy (PNPA) Class 1990.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon