I’M referring to my good friends, Brigadier General Red Maranan and Colonel Jean Fajardo, both outstanding Philippine National Police Academy graduates whom I know are up to their tasks respetiely as the new Quezon City Police District director and chief of the PNP Public Information Office and PNP spokesperson at the same time.

National Capital Region Police Office director, Brig. Gen. Tateng Nartatez led the change of command ceremony at the QCPD headquarters in Camp Karingal the other day, the 1st Monday of September as he welcomed Maranan to his new post and commended the accomplishments of the latter’s predecessor, Brig. Gen. Nic Torre.

Torre, a member of PNPA ‘Tagapaglunsad’ Class of 1993 was praised by Brig. Gen. Nartatez for his exemplary performance and various innovations made at the QCPD which contributed to the achievements of the entire PNP, the NCRPO in particular.

Torre is also being praised by his colleagues and peers for admitting his mistake in holding a presscon for that dismissed cop in the viral video. I would say that he really displayed honor and integrity when he resigned his post after the bashings he got last week. That is very uncommon in our country where public officials who have been caught in the act of committing irregularities or charged in court continue to hold on their posts like a leech.

“I would like to thank you for your dedication and service to the residents of Quezon City. The 3-minute response time and improvement of two Integrated Command and Control Centers (IC3) under your stint greatly contributed to the crime prevention and crime solution of the City,” the Metro Manila police chief said in thanking Torre for his great service to Q.C.

Brig. Gen. Nartatez said he has high expectations on Maranan. “I expect you to continue your devotion to actively adhere and align your decisions to the government’s program and the 5-Focused Agenda of the Chief PNP. Take the lead and exemplify your impressive leadership skills toward gaining more accomplishments for your new assignment. You have the full support of team NCRPO in all your plans for the betterment of QCPD and NCRPO,” he said during the turnover of command also attended by Q.C. Mayor Joy Belmonte.

Last Saturday was the day Brig. Gen. Maranan silently reported to his new office to start working after passing the baton of the PNP-PIO to Col. Fajardo. The member of PNPA Patnubay’ Class of 1995 told me he will sustain and further enhance the many successful anti-crime programs and innovations made at the QCPD by Torre.

A known stickler for discipline, Brig. Gen. Maranan was designated by PNP chief, General Benjie Acorda as the new QCPD director following a consultation with Mayor Belmonte and DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos.

Brig. Gen. Maranan is now one of the four members of PNPA Class 1995 who are Metro Manila police district directors under Nartatez. The others are Brig. Gen. Wilson Asueta, also a lawyer heading the Eastern Police District; Brig. Gen. Rizalito Gapas of the Northern Police District; and Brig. Gen. Ricky Mariano of the Southern Police District.

Manila Police District director, Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon is a member of PNPA ‘Sandigan’ Class of 1994.

Maranan was replaced as PNP-PIO chief by Col. Fajardo, a lawyer from PNPA ‘Kaagapay’ Class of 1996. Col. Fajardo will also serve as the concurrent PNP spokesperson for the meantime.
Designated as PNP-PIO chief and spokesman in October 2022, Brig. Gen. Maranan is no stranger to the QCPD since he used to be a member of its Command Group.

He was the QCPD Deputy District for Operations before being named to his erstwhile post by then PNP chief, now retired Gen. Jun Azurin. Brig. Gen. Maranan became the 2nd PNP-PIO chief to head the QCPD after my ‘Ninong’ George Aliño, a retired general from the Philippine Military Academy Class 1972.

Maranan also used to be a Pangasinan Police Provincial Office director. He has also served in various capacities as a field grade officer in the PNP Aviation Security Group and the Police Regional Office 4-A in Calabarzon region where he commanded several police stations in Cavite province.

During his junior days, he also occupied a number of key posts in the Southern Police District, the Cebu City Police Office and the PRO5 in Bicol Region. The official is a graduate of formal training courses on intelligence, drug law enforcement, incident management, aircraft operations, bomb investigation, human rights, hostage negotiation, and police tactical skills.

He actually topped his Intelligence Training Group class, I learned when we joined Gen. Acorda in an event at the ITG compound last month.

A well-rounded officer with a ‘soft heart for the poor and the oppressed,’ Brig. Gen. Maranan would be bringing his wealth of experience to the QCPD which is also known as Q’C.’s Finest.

On the other hand, Col. Fajardo made history as the first female officer from the PNPA to become a chief of the PNP-PIO, a prestigious position which has produced four top cops, former PNP chiefs, Generals Art Lomibao, Nick Bartolome and Dionards Carlos and former PNP Officer-in-Charge, Gen. Dindo Espina.

Fajardo will become the first female member of PNPA ‘Kaagapay’ Class of 1996 who will become a police 1-star general with her new position. Also, a lawyer, Col. Fajardo was designated as PNP spokesperson in January 2022 by then PNP chief, Gen. Carlos.

Col. Fajardo was a former director of the Pampanga Police Provincial Office who also once served as the chief of police of Lubao municipality and San Fernando City in Pampanga before becoming the head of the Regional Intelligence Division of the PRO3 in Central Luzon.

She also used to be an officer of the now defunct PNP Narcotics Group who eventually became a senior official of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group. I have known her actually since her Lieutenant or Inspector days at the PNP Narcotics Group where we used to share simple lunch or ‘merienda’ during the time of then Chief Superintendent, now Lambunao, Iloilo Mayor Reynor Gonzales.

Col. Fajardo really is a bright officer who got her law degree from the Jose Rizal University College of Law and passed the Bar examinations in 2009. I told her that we really can’t predict our future. Way back in 1998 to 2000, I was covering her feat as an undercover officer, talking to her and some colleagues in a small Nar-Group intelligence office. Now, we will be having coffee and breaking bread in her new office.

Congratulations my friends.