Of PNP placement, promotion
SINCE last March 26 to date, more than 49,000 police officers and men led by the 30th Philippine National Police chief General Rommel Marbil have been promoted to the next higher rank amid continuing developments in the 232,000-strong force.
From the rank of Major General, Marbil was promoted by PBBM to the rank of 4-star General, the highest in the PNP giving him full authority over the organization which has continue to rise amid its ups and downs.
On Thursday, Gen. Marbil designated five 3rd-Level Officials to new positions of major responsibility in the organization effective Friday, the 1st he made since he assumed his position.
The reorganization saw my old-time friend Brigadier Gen. Nic Torre of PNP Academy ‘Tagapaglunsad’ Class of 1993 being named as the acting director of the Communications and Electronics Service. Torre used to be a Quezon City Police District director.
Brig. Gen. Nicolas Salvador, also of PNPA Class 1993 was also designated as the acting Director for Plans where he has been the deputy since July 2023 while Colonel Edwin Portento of PNPA ‘Patnubay’ Class of 1995 was named as the acting PNP Intelligence Group director after being the deputy director of the PNP Retirement and Benefits Administration Service since August 2022.
At the same time, Brig. Gen. Jay Cumigad was designated as the acting PNP Deputy Director for Plans while my former basketball mate, Col. Willy Segun was named as the acting Executive Officer of the same unit.
Both Cumigad and Segun are also from PNPA Class 1995. They are the former PNP-DPL Executive Officer and PNP Highway Patrol Group deputy director respectively.
Under a newly-reorganized PNP-DPL, Brig. Generals Salvador and Cumigad and incoming Brig. Gen. Segun will play a major role in reorganization plan of the PNP particularly the drafting of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the law once it is finally approved by Congress.
Torre took over as the new PNP-CES director vice Brig. Gen. Prexy Tanggawohn who was named as new Bangsamoro Administrative Region Police Regional Office director by former PNP chief Gen. Benjie Acorda last March 26, or five days before the latter ended his extended term.
Tanggawohn of PNPA ‘Tagapagkalinga’ Class of 1991 replaced his classmate, Brig. Gen. Allan Nobleza who was named by Acorda as the new PNP Director for Information Communications and Technology Management on the same date.
Col. Portento on the other hand replaced Col. Noel Ponollera of PNPA ‘Kaagapay’ Class of 1996 who was also designated as PNP-IG director last March 20 by the former PNP chief vice Brig. Gen. Romeo Macapaz, another PNPA Class 1995 member who is now the PNP Deputy Director for Intelligence. Portento will earn his star-rank with his new position although i hope that Ponollera will be given a post that will also earn him his promotion.
Expect more movements in the police force as Gen. Marbil form his own team composed of his officials he has worked with and has complete trust and confidence way before he made history as the 30th PNP chief.
On a personal note, I would like to congratulate many friends who were among the 49,125 newly-promoted members of the PNP who took their oath of office in simultaneous donning of rank ceremonies held in Camp Crame and other police regional and provincial offices across the country last March 25.
The 49,125 policemen were promoted under the Calendar Year 2023 Regular Promotion and 1st Quarter Calendar Year 2024 PNP Continuous Promotion Program. Acorda led the oathtaking of 2,027 newly-promoted Camp Crame- based policemen in ceremonies witnessed by families, friends and colleagues of the PNP personnel.
Among them were nine personnel of the PNP Public Information Office whom I consider as members of my 2nd family. The nine are newly-promoted Lieutenant Eric Fernandez, Police Executive Master Sergeant Vic Viola, Police Senior Master Sergeants Paul de Guzman, Alejandro Cerezo, Mhar Joe Damaso, Carol dela Cruz, and Julie Jay Ecleo, Police Master Sgt. Monica Bergado and Police Staff Sgt. Jahnel Chou.
PNP Special Action Force director Major Gen. Bernie Banac said that 1,796 SAF troopers were among those promoted to the next higher rank. The newly-promoted SAF commandos include 489 Corporals, 46 Staff Sergeants, 461 Master Sergeants, 479 Senior Master Sergeants, 52 Chief Master Sergeants, 108 Police Executive Master Sergeants, 13 Lieutenants, 115 Captains, 31 Majors and 2 Lieutenant Colonels.
Maj. Gen. Banac also said that seven other SAF troopers were likewise given special promotion by virtue of Napolcom Resolution No. 2023-163. He identified the seven as newly-promoted Maj. Ronillo Daligdig Jr., SSgts. John Ray Aquino, Benjie Cadangyao, Reymond Chavez, Nico Gioj Coast, Ronald Sumile and Melvin Villanueva.
According to the PNP Directorate for Personnel and Records Management headed by another friend, Major Gen. Belli Tamayo who, sad to say will retire this coming April 18, of the 49,125 promotees, 161 were promoted to the rank of Police Lieutenant Colonel, 467 to Police Major, 853 to Police Captain, 2,442 to Police Lieutenant, 4,282 to Police Executive Master Sergeant, 5,334 to Police Chief Master Sergeant, 6,116 to Police Senior Master Sergeant, 11,426 to Police Master Sergeant, 11,930 to Police Staff Sergeant and 6,114 were promoted to the rank of Police Corporal.
As the PNP leadership says, may these newly-promoted police officers and men truly adhere to the core principles of accountability, leadership, and dedication to public service. Gen. Marbil said it all: Lead by example.
