PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. (PBBM) has approved the promotion of eight Philippine National Police (PNP) star-rank officers following a recommendation from the National Police Commission (Napolcom) last April 28, the Journal Group learned on Monday.

Their promotion means that they were among the 917 3rd-Level PNP Officers whose resignations from the force were not accepted by President Marcos. The promotion of the eight to a permanent status became effective last April 28, but official orders from the PNP were issued only last May 4.

All products of the PNP Academy (PNPA), the eight led by newly-promoted Major Gen. Rudolph B. Dimas, the director of the PNP-Special Action Force (SAF), will take their oath of office before PNP chief General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. today, Tuesday at Camp Crame.

Apart from Dimas of PNPA Class of 1991, the other 2-star promotees are Maj. Gen. Victor K. Wanchakan, a member of PNPA Class of 1991 who is currently the Deputy Director of the Area Police Command-Western Mindanao and Maj. Gen. Harold B. Tuzon, a product of PNPA Class of 1990 and currently the Deputy Director of the APC-Eastern Mindanao.

The five are all Police Full-Fledged Colonels who have been promoted to the rank of Brigadier General by the Commander-in-Chief.

They are newly-promoted Brig. Generals Victor V. Arevalo, Lex Ephriam C. Gurat, Paul Kenneth T. Lucas, Redrico A. Maranan, and Roderick D. Mariano.

Arevalo, a member of PNPA Class of 1994, is currently the director of the Center for Police Strategy Management, while Gurat of PNPA Class of 1992 is the Regional Chief Directorial Staff of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

Newly-promoted Brig. Generals Lucas, Maranan, and Mariano are all products of PNPA Class of 1995.

Lucas is the director of the PNP Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO), while Maranan is the chief of the PNP Public Information Office (PIO). Mariano is the Deputy Regional Director for the Administration of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 13 in the Caraga region.

There were earlier complaints that the promotion of many deserving police officials was affected by the appeal made by Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” C. Abalos Jr. for all 3rd-Level Police Officers to tender their courtesy resignation before the Chief Executive. \

Acorda said the decision to make public the names of the senior officers absolved or recommended for expulsion by the 5-Man Committee will rest on the decision of the Commander-in-Chief.

Once the President accept the courtesy resignation of some concerned 3rd-Level police officers, they will lose all their retirement pay and benefits except for their CAL or Commutation of Accrued Leave which is the conversion of unused leave credits to their corresponding money value.

Thirty-six other officials were subjected to further evaluation by the Napolcom.

The officials were screened by a 5-Man Committee chaired by former PNP chief, now retired Gen. Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr., other members of the advisory group are retired General and now Baguio City Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong; former Defense Secretary Gilbert C. Teodoro; Office of the Presidential Adviser on Military and Police Affairs, retired General and now Undersecretary Isagani R. Nerez; and retired Court of Appeals Association Justice Melchor Q. Sadang.