Duterte ordered revamp, says acting PNP chief

MANILA, Philippines — The officer in charge of the Philippine National Police said on Monday that he carried out a reorganization on Sunday on orders from President Rodrigo Duterte.

Malacañang, however, said the President just “agreed” to a reshuffle and did not expressly ask for it.

“He didn’t ask for it, but he agreed with the revamp,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.

Speaking at a news conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City, Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa, the PNP officer in charge, said the affected senior police officials asked to know the basis for the revamp during a command conference on Saturday.

Presidential directive

“We admit that there is a directive from the President based on the command conference held in Malacañang,” Gamboa said.

“All leaders must take full responsibility in the entire implementation process of all our law enforcement campaigns. In relation to this, I have ordered the massive revamp beginning at the national headquarters down to the regional levels,” he said.

The senior officials appointed to key posts “are under probation for three months,” he added.

He also postponed all promotions.

The revamp is an “extraordinary measure” called for by “extraordinary times,” Gamboa said, referring to the scandal in the PNP involving officers who pilfer and sell confiscated illegal drugs.

The scandal has brought down Gen. Oscar Albayalde, who stepped down as PNP chief last week, three weeks before his retirement.

Charges filed

On Monday, the PNP brought charges against Albayalde and 13 officers involved in the sale of more than 160 kilos of 200 kilos of “shabu” (crystal meth) they seized in an operation in Pampanga province on Nov. 29, 2013.

“Not only has [the scandal displeased] our President, but [it also has raised doubts about] our capability and resolve to serve and protect the people,” Gamboa said.

The senior officials moved around in the revamp had held their old posts for more than a year, he said.

They were given new assignments, he said, to give a chance to other senior officials to show what they could do in the next three months.

Gamboa said he also gave officials on the PNP directorial staff and all national support unit commanders as well as regional directors three months to perform up to or beyond standards.

Shuffled officials

Shuffled were Maj. Gen. Mariel Magaway, who was tapped to head the directorate for intelligence; Maj. Gen. Amador Corpus, former Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) director, now director of the PNP human resources and doctrine development; Brig. Gen. Joel Napoleon Coronel, former Central Luzon police director, now the new CIDG director; and Brig. Gen. Leonardo Cesneros, named as officer in charge of the PNP in Central Luzon.

Brig. Gen. Nicer Obaob has been tapped as acting Mimaropa police director; Brig. Gen. Ferdinand Divina as acting Eastern Visayas police director; Brig. Gen. Dionardo Carlos as acting director of the Highway Patrol Group; Brig. Gen. Marcelo Morales as acting director of the Police Security and Protection Group; and Brig. Gen. Filmore Escobal as acting Davao region police director.

Brig. Gen. Angelito Casimiro now heads the Cagayan Valley police office in an acting capacity, while Brig. Gen. Edward Carranza has been named acting director of logistics support service.

Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr., former Manila police director, is now acting director of the Calabarzon police. He was replaced in Manila by Brig. Gen. Bernabe Balba.

Brig. Gen. Arnel Escobal was designated acting director of the Aviation Security Group; Brig. Gen. Anthony Alcañeses was named acting director of the Bicol region police; Brig. Gen. Joselito Daniel as acting director of the police Community Affairs and Development Group; Brig. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia as deputy director for police community relations; and Brig. Gen. Tomas Apolinario Jr. as deputy director at the Directorate for Intelligence.

Brig. Gen. Albert Ignatius Ferro, former PNP Drug Enforcement Group director, is now acting deputy director for administration of the Bicol region police. He was replaced by Col. Romeo Caramat Jr.

The Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group is now headed by Col. Ronald Lee. —With a report from Julie M. Aurelio