THE Philippine National Police has named Major General Jonnel Estomo as new Area Police Command-Western Mindanao director vice Lieutenant Gen. Vicente D. Danao Jr. who retired yesterday, the Journal Group learned yesterday.

Estomo will be getting his 3rd-star with his new assignment even as PNP chief General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. designated Brigadier Gen. Nicolas S. Salvador as Officer-in-Charge of the PNP Directorate for Plans.

Estomo was a former National Capital Region Police Office director. He was among the strongest contenders to replace Gen. Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. for PNP chief.

On orders of Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ C. Abalos Jr., the official was designated as PNP Deputy Chief for Operations last February.

However, he was assigned as PNP Director for Plans when President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr. named Gen. Benjamin Casuga Acorda as new PNP chief

Retiring on November 25, 2024, Estomo is known for being one of the distinguished and finest officers of PMA Class of 1992.

Born on November 25, 1968 in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, the official became a seasoned combat officer in the Mindanao and Luzon areas after graduating from the Philippine Military Academy.

He was the chief of the Pangasinan Criminal Investigation and Detection Team when it was named as the Best Provincial CIDT during the 56th founding anniversary of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in 2009.

In 2011, he was adjudged as the Best Senior Police Commissioned Officer during the CIDG’s 57th founding anniversary.

Under him, the Cavite Police Provincial Office was adjudged as the Best Provincial Office during the 114th Police Service Anniversary in 2015.

He also received an award as the Best Senior Police Commissioned Officer for Administration during the 116th PNP Anniversary in 2017.

Estomo also became a Cavalier Awardee for Police Operations in 2018, chosen by a distinguished panel from the PMA Alumni Association, Inc. in that year.

A well-decorated officer, he was director of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group, the Police Regional Office 5 (PRO 5) in Bicol and later the NCRPO in Metro Manila.

As PNP-AKG director, Estomo has been cited for leading the unit’s successful efforts to arrest kidnapping-for-ransom activities in the country.

Under him, the PNP-AKG became known for its successful fight versus organized kidnapping gangs, specifically foreign syndicates and their Filipino cohorts.

It was Maj. Gen. Estomo as PNP-AKG director when the unit established itself as a leading force in the campaign against kidnapping-for-ransom gangs.

Under him the command arrested hundreds of wanted persons, neutralized dozens of notorious kidnappers and got their captives alive in risky rescue operations.

He was also a main contributor to the selection of the PRO5 in the Bicol region as the Best Police Regional Office during the 121st Police Service.

As Metro Manila police director from August 2022 to February 2023, Estomo became known for launching his S.A.F.E. program which is short for a Metro Manila police force that must be ‘Seen, Appreciated and Felt by the people thru their Extraordinary good deeds round-the-clock.