PNP: Central Luzon police has a new chief

MANILA, Philippines — The Central Luzon police has a new chief.

Brig. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, previously the deputy director of the Philippine National Police-Directorate for Police Community Relations (PNP-DPCR), was named acting director of the Police Regional Office 3 (Central Luzon).

Sermonia replaces Brig. Gen. Joel Napoleon Coronel, who was earlier named as the new director of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. He will take the helm of the Central Luzon police effective Monday.

Brig. Gen. Bartolome Bustamante, meanwhile, replaced Sermonia as deputy director of the DPCR.

The latest movements are part of the major PNP revamp being implemented by Lt. Gen. Archie Gamhoa, officer-in-charge on the 190,000-strong national police force.

Both Sermonia and Bustamante are members of the Philippine Military Academy Makatao Class of 1989.

Col. Julius Lagiwid was also reassigned. From being the deputy director of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group, he is now designated as acting executive officer of DPCR.

Further, Col. Domingo Lucas, former Deputy Regional Director for Operations of the Police Regional Office 2 (Cagayan Valley), is the new acting Deputy Regional Director for Administration of the Police Regional Office 5 (Bicol Region).

According to PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac, the latest assignments of PNP officials were recommended by the PNP Senior Officers Placement and Promotion Board. /kga