New PNP-PIO chief assumes office

THE new mouthpiece of the Philippine National Police is formerly the head of the anti-illegal drugs unit of the 150,000-member force.

After his two-year stint at the PNP anti-illegal drugs special operations task force, Lawyer Senior Superintendent Bartolome Tobias will be the PNP spokesperson and chief of the PNP Public Information Office.

Tobias, a member of Philippine Military Academy “Sandiwa” class of 1985, formally assumed office on Wednesday, replacing Chief Superintendent Generoso Cerbo Jr.

Cerbo, Tobias’ upperclassman from PMA “Maharlika” class of 1984, is now holding a higher position as officer in charge of the PNP’s Directorate for Intelligence.

As AIDSOTF chief, Tobias was cited for breaking the backbone of notorious drug syndicates during a recent string of successful police operations.

The PIO said Tobias was admitted into the Philippine Bar in 2003. He also served a tour of duty with the United Nations Mission in Timor Leste.

“Essentially, my responsibility is to ensure effective implementation of the PNP Media Relations Policy that basically involves upholding the right to information particularly on matters of public interest,” he said.

Tobias was previously assigned in Western Visayas where he served various positions in line units as a junior officer and later as Provincial Director of Antique in 2006 and City Director of Iloilo City Police Office in 2008 before his reassignment to the National Headquarters.   AC