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Marcos appoints Bacarro as AFP chief of staff, de Lemos as NBI chief

By Jeanne M ichael Penaranda

MANILA – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has chosen Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro, commander of the Armed Forces the Philippines – Southern Luzon Command, as new AFP chief of staff .

Marcos Jr. also appointed long-time Assistant Director Medardo de Lemos as the new director of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

“Director De Lemos rose from the ranks and his appointment as NBI Director is a strong indication of President Marcos’ commitment in strengthening the system of ‘meritocracy’ in the promotion, placement and hiring of government personnel,” said Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles.

De Lemos, a lawyer and career offi cer who had been with the NBI for 37 years, was earlier designated NBI o cer-in-charge (OIC) by Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

He replaced Eric Distor, who was appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte last March.

An attached agency of the DOJ, the NBI is mandated to investigate or assist in the investigation of major crimes in the country.

Bacarro will assume his post during the change of command for the new AFP chief of staff on August to give him time to wind down at the SOLCOM and provide him with the transition to his new position in Camp Aguinaldo.

A graduate of the Philippine Military Academy, Bacarro was born on Sept. 1 , 19 in San Fernando, La Union. He graduated in the upper quartile of PMA “Maringal” Class of 19 .

Angeles said outgoing CS-AFP Gen. Andres Centino, a classmate of Bacarro

Lt. Gen. Bartolome Vicente Bacarro

in PMA, is slated for a new post befi tting a former chief of staff .

Mayor...

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bearers, relationships with law enforcement, fear, all play a role in the hesitation,” Magbua l said. “Some of the hesitation for reporting stems from cultural stigma and mistrust of law enforcement. There are fears that justice will not prevail because of the bur eaucratic process.”

Magbual said that the process of fi ling a complaint, possibility of obtaining representation, the time and money to prove that such cases can be charged as a hate crime are challenging and that langua ge can be barrier as well.

“We have a current campaign such as our Daly City against Hate. We’ve partnered with local bus inesses, community organizations, and students to be proactive, bu t I think there’s more that needs to be done on even cultural relevant and responsive services to serve victims of hate crimes,” Magbua l stated. “As a preventative measure, we need to start educating our yout h about race, racism, sexism, homophobia at a younge r age.”

The Mayor added that Jeff erson Elementary and Jeff erson Union High School District have taken measures to integrate Ethnic Studies to their curriculum as a requirement, adding this is important to understand the root causes of oppression so our students can learn how violence and racism has been embedded in the establishment of the United States and how current hate crimes are products of this lineage.

He also advised victims of hate crimes to go to the victim assistance section of the Daly City Brochure by Daly City Police Department.

Magbual said he believes victims of hate crimes are targeted and that it is a shame for people, especially elders, should not be afraid of going outside.

“They came to this country for freedom and the autonomy to go to work and raise their children. For elders, I’d strongly advise them to be cautious of their surroundings, carry pepper spray, a whistle to draw attention if there are threats,” said Magbual. “For young people, to understand and educate ourselves about racism and violence. To understand that racism are produced and reproduced in our everyday conversations with family, friends, co-workers. Stereotypes dehumanizes people that allows behavior and violence to occur.”

Magbual admitted that his o ce has not reached out yet and collaborated with organizations like STOP AAPI HATE to talk about the issue on cases of hate crimes against Asians but recalled having Dr. Russell Jeung, who leads Stop AAPI Hate, as his professor in Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University.

“Although currently there are no agreements with any organizations, I am open to creating partnerships. Agreements with them may include sharing of information on hate incidents, having common contact persons and/or numbers that victims of hate incidents can run to/call on, united eff ort in helping victims in any way including recovering from trauma, reporting incidents and pursuing fi ling of cases etc.,” Magbual said.

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