NEW directors of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (PNP-CIDG), the Special Action Force (SAF), and the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) on Tuesday took over following orders from PNP chief General Dionardo B. Carlos.

Brigadier Gen. Eliseo DC Cruz is now the new PNP-CIDG director vice retiring Maj. Gen. Albert Ignatius D. Ferro while Maj. Gen. Felipe R. Natividad is the new NCRPO director vice Maj. Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr. who has been named as the new Chief Directorial Staff of the PNP, the 4th highest position in the 225,000-strong police force.

Brig. Gen. Patrick T. Villacorte also assumed his new post as PNP-SAF director vice Natividad.

Erstwhile PNP Director for Comptrollership, Maj. Gen. Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. also took over as the new PNP Area Police Command-Southern Luzon commander vice Lieutenant Gen. Ferdinand O. Divina who was temporarily assigned at the Office of the Chief PNP.

Azurin was replaced by erstwhile PNP Command Center (PNPCC) chief Brig. Gen. Benjamin D. Santos Jr. The new PNPCC director was Brig. Gen. Francis M. Cariaga.

Brig. Gen. Harris R. Fama also took over as the new PNP Information Communications Technology Management director vice Brig. Gen. Benjamin H. Silo Jr. who will be taking over as the new Police Regional Office 11 (PRO11) director in Southern Mindanao.

Brig. Gen. Prexy D. Tanggawohn on the other hand replaced Brig. Gen. Villacorte as director of the PNP Communications and Electronics Service.

Newly designated PNP Deputy Chief for Administration, Lt. Gen. Israel Ephraim T. Dicson, installed the officials to their post.

The reshuffle was triggered by the retirement of former PNP Deputy Chief for Administration, Lieutenant Gen. Joselito M. Vera Cruz and Ferro.

Brig. Gen. Emmanuel B. Peralta, the erstwhile Police Regional Office 1 (PRO1) director in Ilocos-Pangasinan region is also set to be replaced by Brig. Gen. Westrimundo D. Obinque, the erstwhile Senior Police Assistant to the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) chief.

Brig. Gen. Peralta will be the new PNP Deputy Director for Human Resource and Doctrine Development.

Silo will replace Brig. Gen. Filmore B. Escobal who was designated as the new Deputy Director of the PNP Area Police Command-Eastern Mindanao, a position that will give him his 2nd star.

Brig. Gen. Arnel Amor B. Libed will replace Fama, the erstwhile PNP Deputy Director for Police-Community Relations.

Brig. Gen. Joaquin R. Alva was designated as the new Executive Officer of the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management. Alva traded position with Brig. Gen. John G. Guyguyon of PNPA (Philippine National Police Academy) Class 1991.

Former Davao City Police Office director, Col. Kirby John B. Kraft was also named as new PNP-SAF deputy director, a position that will earn him his star-rank. Kraft replaced Brig. Gen. Telio C. Ngis-O who was reassigned to the Office of the Chief PNP prior to his retirement this coming March 22.

Brig. Gen. Remus Zacharias meanwhile was designated as acting deputy commander of the Area Police Command-Visayas vice Cruz while Maj. Gen. Joseph Ulysses C. Gohel was named as deputy commander of the Area Police Command-Southern Luzon.

Col. Jonathan A. was also relieved as PRO8 Deputy Regional Director for Operations in Eastern Visayas and designated as new Executive Officer of the Directorate for Police Community Relations (DPCR), a position that will also earn him his star-rank.

Col. Salvador T. Alacyang will be the new PRO8 DRDO while Col. Jonathan B. Abella will be the PRO8 Chief Regional Directorial Staff.