Over 40 generals reshuffled

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. on Monday, ordered a wide-ranging revamp of key positions in the 226,000-strong organization, which affected over 40 star-rank officials in what has been touted as the “biggest revamp” in the PNP’s 31-year history.

“The reorganization of personnel occupying key positions aims to provide opportunities and career growth. At the same time, this move shall strengthen and empower strategic offices and units with the placement of more seasoned and experienced senior officers at their helms to further hone the operational and administrative undertakings against criminality, enforcement of the law, and maintenance of peace and order,” said PNP Public Information Office chief, Brig. Gen. Roderick Augustus B. Alba in a statement.

In a surprising move, Azurin overhauled his command group, directorial staff, a number of police regional offices, and national operational and administrative support units.

He named Lt. Gen. Jose Chiquito M. Malayo as the new PNP Deputy Chief for Administration vice Lt. Gen. Rhodel O. Sermonia; Maj. Gen. Benjamin D. Santos Jr. as the new PNP Deputy Chief for Operations vice Lt. Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr.; and Maj. Gen. Arthur V. Bisnar as the new PNP The Chief Directorial Staff vice Malayo.

Malayo and Sermonia are both classmates from Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Makatao” Class of 1989 of Gen. Azurin, while Santos is from PMA “Sambisig” Class of 1991. Bisnar belongs to PMA “Bigkis Lahi” Class of 1990.

Lt. Gen. Sermonia was transferred as Area Police Command-Visayas commander, while Lt. Gen. Danao, the erstwhile PNP Officer-in-Charge (OIC), was named as commander of the Area Police Command-Western Mindanao.

On the other hand, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director, Maj. Gen. Felipe R. Natividad, also of PMA Class 1990, was designated as the new Area Police Command-Northern Luzon commander, a position Azurin previously occupied.

Maj. Gen. Jonnel C. Estomo of PMA “Tanglaw-Diwa” Class of 1992 was named as the new NCRPO director in Metro Manila. Estomo used to be the Area Police Command-Southern Luzon deputy director.

Cordillera Police Regional Office director, Brig. Gen. Ronald O. Lee of PMA Class 1992 was named as the new PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) director, vice Maj. Gen. Eliseo DC Cruz of PMA Class 1990 who will be the new PNP Director for Investigation and Detective Management.

As approved by Azurin, the other new positions in the PNP are the following: Maj. Gen. Alessandro C. Abella, a member of PNP Academy Class 1989 who used to be Gen. Azurin’s deputy at the Area Police Command-Northern Luzon, was named as the new PNP Director for Research and Development.

Maj. Gen. Jesus D. Cambay Jr. of PMA Class 1989 was relieved as PNP Civil Security Group director and named as the new PNP Director for Comptrollership vice Maj. Gen. Santos.

Brig. Gen. Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. was relieved as Police Regional Office 10 (PRO10) director in Northern Mindanao and designated as the new PNP Director for Intelligence vice his classmate from PMA Class 1991, Maj. Gen. Michael John F. Dubria.

Brig. Gen. Jon A. Arnaldo of PMA Class 1991 was relieved as director of the National Police Training Institute and named as the new PNP Director for Human Resource and Doctrine Development vice Maj. Gen. Bisnar.

Brig. Gen. Matthew P. Baccay of PMA Class 1992 was relieved as PRO3 director in Central Luzon and designated as the new PNP Deputy Director for Personnel and Records Management.

Brig. Gen. Bernard M. Banac of PMA Class 1992 was relieved as PRO8 director in Eastern Visayas and named as new PNP Director for Plans.

Lee, Acorda, Arnaldo, and Banac will get their 2nd-star with their new positions.

Brig. Gen. Flynn E. Dongbo of PMA Class 1990 was relieved as PRO6 director in Western Visayas and named as new PNP Deputy Director for Logistics.

Brig. Gen. Samuel C. Nacion of PNPA Class 1992 was relieved as director of the PNP Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) and designated as the new PNP Deputy Director for Investigation and Detective Management.

Brig. Gen. Westrimundo D. Obinque of PMA Class 1992 was relieved as PRO1 director in Ilocos-Pangasinan and named as new PNP Deputy Comptroller.

Brig. Gen. Emmanuel B. Peralta of PMA Class 1991 was relieved as PNP Director for Information Communication and Technology Management and designated as the new PNP Director for Operations vice Maj. Gen. Valeriano T. de Leon of PMA Class 1989.

Brig. Gen. Alexander C. Tagum of PNPA Class 1991 was relieved as PRO12 director in Central Mindanao and named as new PNP Deputy Director for Human Resource and Doctrine Development.

Brig. Gen. Antonio C. Yarra of PMA Class 1991 was relieved as PRO4-A director in the Calabarzon (Cavite/Laguna/Batangas/Rizal/Quezon) region and designated as new PNP Deputy Director for Intelligence.

Col. Robert Alexander A. Morico II of PNPA Class 1992, the erstwhile deputy director of PNP Intelligence Group, was transferred to the PNP Directorate for Intelligence.

Brig. Gen. Jerry F. Bearis of PNPA Class 1993 was relieved as Eastern Police District director and transferred to the PRO3.

Brig. Gen. Ronaldo R. Cabral of PNPA Class 1992 was relieved as PRO10 deputy regional director for administration and named as the new PNP Training Service director.

Brig. Gen. Nicolas D. Torre III of PNPA Class 1993 was relieved as NCRPO chief regional directorial staff and named as new PNPA director.

Col. Jaysen C. de Guzman of PNPA Class 1995, the erstwhile PNP Headquarters Support Service director, was transferred to the NCRPO.

Col. Neri Vincent D. Ignacio of PNPA Class 1994 was relieved from the Area Police Command-Northern Luzon and transferred to the PNP Directorate for Logistics, and Col. Kirby John B. Kraft of PNPA Class 1994 was relieved from the PNP Special Action Force and transferred to the NCRPO.

Col. Pedro D. Soliba of PNPA Class 1992 was relieved from the PNP Directorate for Police-Community Relations and transferred to the PNP-CSG.

Col. Reynaldo M. Tamondong was transferred to the Area Police Command-Northern Luzon from APC-Southern Luzon.

Brig. Gen. John G. Guyguyon of PNPA Class 1991 was relieved as PNP Secretary to the Directorial Staff and transferred to the Bangsamoro Administrative Region Police Regional Office.

Brig. Gen. Leumar U. Abugan was relieved from APC-Southern Luzon and transferred to the PNP-CSG.

Brig. Gen. Neil B. Alinsañgan of PMA Class 1991 was relieved as PNP Intelligence Group director and named as the new PRO9 director in Southern Mindanao.

Brig. Gen. Joaquin R. Alva of PMA Class 1992 was relieved as PNP-DIDM deputy director and transferred to the PNPA. Brig. Gen. Lawrence B. Coop of PNPA Class 1991 was relieved as director of the Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies and transferred to the PRO10.

Brig. Gen. Ulysses G. Cruz of PMA Class 1992 was relieved as Northern Police District director and named as new PNP EOD/K-9 Group director. Brig. Gen. Rudolph B. Dimas of PNPA Class 1992 was relieved as PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group director and named as the new PRO5 director in the Bicol region.

Brig. Gen. Narcisco D. Domingo of PNPA Class 1992 was relieved as PRO3-DRDA and named as new PNP Drug Enforcement Group director, vice Brig. Gen. Randy Q. Peralta.

Brig. Gen. Joel B. Doria of PNPA Class 1992 was named as new PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group director. Brig. Gen. Rommel Francisco D. Marbil of PMA Class 1991 was relieved as PNP Highway Patrol Group director and named as new PRO8 director vice Banac.

Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr. of PMA Class 1992 was relieved as PNP Finance Service director and named as the new PRO4-A director in Calabarzon. Brig. Gen. Belli B. Tamayo of PMA Class 1992 was relieved as PNP Forensic Group director and named as new PRO1 director.

Brig. Gen. Sydney N. Villaflor of PMA Class 1992 was named as the new PNP-CIDG deputy director. Col. Rodolfo D. Castil Jr. of PNPA Class 1993 was named as the new PNP-AKG director.

Col. Paul Kenneth T. Lucas of PNPA Class 1995 was relieved as Police Retirement and Benefit Service Administration deputy director and named as new PNP Firearms and Explosives Office director.

Maj. Gen. Alexander J. Sampaga of PNPA Class 1989 was relieved as PNPA director and transferred to the Office of the Chief, PNP. Brig. Gen. Leo M. Francisco of PMA Class 1992 was relieved as Manila Police District director and named as the new PRO6 director; Francisco was replaced by erstwhile Aviation Security Group director, Brig. Gen. Andre P. Dizon of PNPA Class 1994.

Brig. Gen. Jimili L. Macaraeg of PMA Class 1991 was relieved as Southern Police District director and named as new PRO12 director. Col. Wilson C. Asueta of PNPA Class 1995 was named as the new Eastern Police District director, and Col. Ponce Rogelio I. Peñones Jr. was named as the new Northern Police District director.