THE magna cum laude of Philippine Military Academy ‘Tanglaw-Diwa’ Class of 1992, Brigadier General Sydney S. Hernia, on Monday took over as the new director of the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group.

The 53-year-old official was installed as the 14th director of the PNP-ACG by PNP Deputy Chief for Administration Lieutenant Gen. Rhodel O. Sermonia during simple ceremonies held at the PNP-ACG headquarters in Camp Crame.

Brig. Gen. Hernia, the erstwhile regional director of the Police Regional Office 4-B in Mimaropa region swapped post with Brig. Gen. Joel B. Doria who was commended by the PNP leadership for his unwavering leadership and dedication to duty. Doria is a member of PNP Academy ‘Tagapagpatupad’ Class of 1992.

Hernia, the PRO4-B director since January 4, 2022 will get the chance to be promoted to the rank of Major General once a House-approved PNP Reorganization Bill is approved by the Senate and signed into a law by PBBM.

As contained in the proposed amendments to Republic Act 6975 or the Department of Interior and Local Government Act of 1990, the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group, the Maritime Group, the PNP Intelligence Group, Aviation Security Group, Drug Enforcement Group, Highway Patrol Group and Forensic Group will all be headed by an official with the rank of Police Major General.

Hernia will retire from the police force on October 20, 2025.

A consistent scholar during his primary and secondary education, Hernia was also the Class Valedictorian during their elementary and high school graduation. He again proved his mettle when he topped the PMA Class 1992 and their other mandatory schooling.

The official said he believes that to build a Police Commissioned Officer into an all-seasoned leader, he has to come out of his comfort zone and find his nest in other areas where he will have the opportunity to hone his leadership potential and sharpen his skills.

“I know this will be a challenging call to my leadership, but I wholeheartedly accept it” he told Lt. Gen. Sermonia and the rest of the audience from the PNP-ACG and his classmates from PMA Class 1992.

The new PNP-ACG director quoted famed computer scientist Newton Lee in his assumption speech. “As the world is increasingly interconnected, everyone shares the responsibility of securing cyberspace,” Lee said.

The new top cybercop enjoined everyone to give utmost priority to implementing cyber-resiliency measures to enhance the organization’s capabilities and capacities in addressing cybercrime. He also stressed the need to cultivate a culture of cybersecurity where it becomes a priority at all levels in the PNP organization.

Brig. Gen. Doria congratulated his successor as he expressed confidence that Brig. Gen. Hernia wiill be able to take ACG to greater heights of accomplishments as he takes on the challenge to continue the fight against all forms of cyberspace criminality.

The new Mimaropa police director was named by PNP chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. as PNP-ACG director on August 8 last year in recognition of his long service in the unit where the latter became its chief of staff and later deputy director.

For a number of years, Doria, a former Highway Patrol Group officer who became a Cebu City police director, was a regular fixture at the PNP-ACG, serving under a number of directors. He was one of the ACG officials who orchestrated a plan to have a world-class ACG building at Camp Crame until the plan came into fruition when the modern facility was inaugurated by Gen. Azurin and Doria, already as its director last November.

Doria will retire from the service this coming December 10.