News PNP chief was a UN peacekeeper

Police Lt. Gen. Dionardo Carlos. INQUIRER.net file photo / Noy Morcoso

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte appointed on Wednesday a former UN peacekeeper as new chief of the Philippine National Police to replace Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, who will reach the mandatory retirement age on Nov. 13.

In a statement, Malacañang announced the appointment of Police Lt. Gen. Dionardo Carlos, currently chief of the directorial staff, the fourth highest position in the PNP hierarchy.

Carlos, older brother of Philippine Navy chief Rear Adm. Alberto Carlos, is a member of the Philippine Military Academy’s “Maringal” Class of 1988 and twice served in UN peacekeeping missions in Cambodia and East Timor. He also served in the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the defunct Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force of the PNP and as PNP spokesperson.

Carlos is expected to serve as PNP chief for less than six months, because he will reach the retirement age of 56 on May 8, 2022, the day before the May 9 general elections.

Reshuffle ordered

Eleazar, who served only six months as PNP chief, also ordered on Tuesday the reshuffle of six officials, effective today, ahead of the retirement of another officer, Western Visayas regional police chief Rolando Miranda.

Miranda was replaced by Police Brig. Gen. Flynn Dongbo, current chief of the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group, while Dongbo was replaced by Police Brig. Gen. Oliver Enmodias from the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

Enmodias, on the other hand, was replaced by Police Col. Leumar Abugan, from the Maritime Group, while Police Col. Genaro Sapiera from the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) was named to the Maritime Group,Police Col. Fernando Ortega from the Directorate for Plans replaced Sapiera at the PDEG.