2 minute read

Reshuffle of top police officials...

said in a statement.

applicants, the continued escalation of geopolitical tensions in the IndoPacific Region, and the re-emergence of internal security threats, it is crucial for the State to carefully scrutinize the activities of foreign militaries in the country, particularly those which appear questionable or which are shrouded in secrecy,” she said.

Advertisement

On June 9, Marcos disclosed that her brother’s administration agreed to a supposed discreet plan, granting the US’ request to provide a safe haven in the Philippines for Afghans suspected to be “American spies” who fled their country.

Prior to baring the information from the Presidential Management Staff (PMS), Marcos filed on June 8 a resolution seeking to probe the said plan, questioning the PMS’ decision to keep the results of the “technical coordination meeting” from the public. n

In special orders dated June 26, PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. reassigned eight generals, including the regional director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

The reassignment orders were signed by Maj. Gen. Robert Rodriguez, head of the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management, and Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Peralta, the fourth in command as acting chief of directorial staff.

A joint turnover and assumption ceremony — with Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, PNP’s No. 2 as acting chief for administration, serving as the presiding officer — was scheduled in Camp Crame on Tuesday morning, which was moved to late in the afternoon, until it was eventually called off.

In stopping the action of the PNP leadership, Abalos, who sits as Napolcom chair, cited Section 6(3)(f) of Napolcom Memorandum Circular No. 2019-001, stating that “the assignment/designation of the [concerned positions] shall be submitted to the Commission for confirmation prior to the submission of the same to the President for approval.”

“Civilian control over the police is a hallowed principle of our fundamental law. Rest assured that the Napolcom will carry out its duty to oversee and enhance the administration of the PNP,” Abalos said.

Changes

Under Acorda’s orders, Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., who was formerly the intelligence director, was named the new acting regional director of the NCRPO.

He would replace Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo, who was named the new chief of the Directorate for Police Community Relations (DPCR).

Interestingly, Nartatez was among the five brigadier generals who were reassigned in early May when Acorda implemented a “minor reorganization,” his first reshuffle in the PNP.

Before being named as chief of the intelligence service, Nartatez headed the Directorate for Comptrollership for barely a week—which was assigned to him by former PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin days prior to his retirement and was criticized by some officials as a midnight appointment.

Okubo would have been among the NCRPO chiefs with the shortest stint, serving for only four months, after being appointed in February also by Azurin.

Meanwhile, then DPCR director Maj. Gen. Mario Reyes was designated to head the Directorate for Logistics, while Maj. Gen. Jon Arnaldo replaced Nartatez as the new Directorate for Intelligence chief.

Brig. Gen. Ronald Oliver Lee was designated as the new chief of the Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development, replacing Arnaldo.

Maj. Gen. Eric Noble, director of the PNP Academy (PNPA), was named the new head of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management, while Brig. Gen. Samuel Nacion would

This article is from: