New Metro Manila police director takes over

New Metro Manila police director Marcelo Garbo Jr. with Philippine National Police Director General Alan Purisima and new PNP chief directorial staff Leonardo Espina. Photo by Jaymee T. Gamil

MANILA, Philippines – There’s a new sheriff in town for Metro Manila, all the way from Cebu province.

In turnover ceremonies Saturday morning at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig, outgoing National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Leonardo Espina officially turned over his post to his “mistah” (classmate) at the Philippine Military Academy (Class of 1981), Chief Superintendent Marcelo P. Garbo.

Garbo comes fresh from being director of the Police Regional Office 7 in Central Visayas. He also previously had stints as NCRPO chief of Regional Operations Divisions and deputy director for operations of the Philippine National Police.

Garbo is known as a “veteran drug-buster,” according to an NCRPO press statement.

“Our plans should be simple and responsive, measurable, attainable and be realistic to the issues that we have recognized to address. We will enhance crime data base, e-rogues gallery, e-warrant and we will make full use of our investigative capability,” Garbo said in a speech on Saturday.

Garbo told reporters he had called for an immediate command conference for briefing on Saturday afternoon.

An “immediate challenge” would be the security preparations for President Benigno Aquino III’s State of the Nation Address on July 22, he said.

He also cited as his priority the formulation of plans and programs to operationalize PNP Director General Alan Purisima’s Code-P (Competence, Organization, Discipline, Excellence and Professionalism) program, Patrol Plan 2030 and performance governance system.

Garbo said he would “definitely continue the good programs of his predecessor.” Espina expressed confidence Garbo “will be able to perfect the systems, what with his managerial skills and leadership” learned from his previous posts.

Purisima expressed the same confidence in Garbo, noting his immediate concern was to maintain the momentum of police operations in the National Captial region and protect its 18 million residents.

“Metro Manila, as the center of national government and seat of economic power, must be kept free from all threats to public order and safety,” Purisima said in his speech.

Espina, meanwhile, will be moving up as the acting chief directorial staff of the PNP, after his 317-day tour of duty with the NCRPO.

“As new chief of the directorial staff, I will see to it that all support needed by NCRPO will be given due course. I and the chief PNP both personally know your predicaments and needs,” Espina said in his outgoing speech.

Espina, former Highway Patrol Group director, took over as NCRPO director from Purisima, who is also his “mistah,” on Sept. 7, 2012.