PNP chief shuffles top staff officers
MANILA, Philippines — A day after he took over as Philippine National Police chief, Police Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan appointed on Thursday Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar to the second highest post in the PNP.
Aside from being the deputy chief for administration, Eleazar will continue to serve as Joint Task Force COVID Shield commander. On the other hand, Police Lt. Gen. Cesar Hawthorne Binag took over the post vacated by Eleazar, the PNP deputy chief for operations, making him the third highest ranking police official.
Cascolan also named Police Maj. Gen. Joselito Vera Cruz as PNP Directorial Staff chief, Police Maj. Gen Gilberto Cruz as PNP Academy director and Police Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Luis Licup as the director for comptrollership.
Other police officials who were given new assignments were Police Brig. Gen. Alfred Corpus as acting director for operations; Police Brig. Gen. Rolando Hinanay as acting director for personnel and records management; Police Maj. Gen. Jose Chiquito Malayo as director for integrated police operations in Northern Luzon; Police Gen. Bartolome Bustamante as Police Regional Office 5 director; Police Brig. Gen. Steve Ludan as PNP Crime Laboratory director; while Police Maj. Gen. Marni Marcos Jr. was reassigned to the Office of the Chief PNP.
Seniority rules
PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said the new appointments that took effect on Thursday were made “following the rule of succession by seniority and due to vacancy in position.”
Meanwhile, Eleazar, in his capacity as Joint Task Force COVID Shield commander, said that policemen would be deployed to voter registration centers nationwide to maintain order and also ensure that people follow health protocols, including the wearing of face masks and face shields.
“Securing the voter registration should be [done] until the last days of the schedule since we all know that people usually flock to the [Commission on Election] offices to register a few days leading to the deadline,” he said in a statement.
