Jack Wanky assumes post as new Calabarzon top cop
INQUIRER FILES
LUCENA CITY — Police Brigadier General Jack Wanky assumed his post on Friday as the new chief of the Police Regional Office 4A (PRO-4A), covering the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) region.
The designation of Wanky came after outgoing Calabarzon director Police Brigadier General Paul Kenneth Lucas was appointed as acting Deputy Regional Director for Administration in the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).
It was a result of the reshuffle of the country’s police force just over two weeks after Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Nicolas Torre III assumed leadership of the law enforcement agency.
Wanky was the former police director of Western Visayas.
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The turnover ceremony was held at the PRO-4A headquarters in Camp Vicente Lim, Canlubang, Laguna, according to a report from the PRO-4A public information office (PIO). It was presided over by Police Lieutenant General Melencio Nartatez Jr., PNP Deputy Chief for Administration, who represented Torre.
Lucas led PRO-4A for one year, eight months, and 16 days after his appointment in October 2023.
“Under his leadership, the region recorded significant achievements in law enforcement operations and reinforced strong collaboration with local government units and community partners,” the PRO-4A PIO said.
Commitment to excellence
Lucas, in his farewell speech as quoted by the PIO, said he accepted his new position in the NCRPO “with the same commitment to excellence and integrity that I carried in Calabarzon.”
“As I now take on my next role, I carry with me the lessons, memories, and the spirit of Team Calabarzon—resilient, committed, and service-oriented,” Lucas added.
In his assumption address, Wanky expressed his commitment to sustain the gains of PRO-4A and further strengthen its operational capabilities.
He vowed to intensify the fight against criminality, illegal drugs, and insurgency, while upholding police discipline, professionalism, and transparency.
Wanky, a native of Buguias, Benguet, is a member of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Class of 1992. He previously served as chief of staff of the PNPA, deputy regional director for operations of the NCRPO, director of the PNP Aviation Security Group, and regional director of Police Regional Office in Western Visayas.
After the event, Wanky installed Police Colonel Romulo Albacea as the new director of Quezon police provincial office, replacing Police Colonel Ruben Lacuesta, who had led the Quezon police force since October last year.
