PNP CHIEF Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan yesterday implemented a top-level reshuffle in the 209,000-strong police force, affecting 11 generals.
One of the reassigned officers was the PNP’s No. 3 man, Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar who will now be the PNP deputy chief for administration, the second highest post in the PNP. Eleazar was PNP deputy chief for operation before his new assignment.
The post of PNP deputy chief for administration was the last assignment of Cascolan, of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1986, prior to his designation as PNP chief by President Duterte on Tuesday.
Cascolan retires on November 10 this year.
Eleazar said welcomed his promotion to the PNP’s No. 2 post.
“This is good for my career because from being the No. 3 man. I’m now the No. 2 man.
This is a new responsibility and we’re in full support of our chief PNP. We will work harder, smarter,” said Eleazar.
Eleazar and Lt. Gen. Cesar Hawtorne Binag, chief of PNP directorial staff, were among those considered to succeed now retired Gen. Archie Gamboa but they lost to Cascolan due to the seniority factor.
Binag is also again expected to contend as PNP chief when Cascolan retires. Eleazar and Binag, both members of PMA Class 1987, are due to reach the retirement age of 56 in April and November next year, respectively.
Binag, the PNP’s No. 4 man, was also given a new position in yesterday’s reshuffle. He will take over the post of PNP deputy chief for operations which will be vacated by Eleazar.
Taking over Binag’s post as chief of PNP directorial staff is Maj. Gen. Joselito Vera Cruz, PNP director for information and communications technology. Cruz is a PMA classmate of Eleazar and Binag.
PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said Eleazar will remain the commander of the Joint Task Force COVID-Shield which is playing a key role in the implementation of quarantine protocols throughout the country.
Banac said Cascolan’s other previous post as head of the Administrative Support to COVID Operations Task Force (ASCOTF) will go to Binag, who had been serving as the task force’s deputy commander.
Banac said the decision to retain Eleazar as JTF COVID Shield chief and Binag’s designation as ASCOTF chief, from being deputy chief, “will ensure continuity of the action plans of both task forces.”
Banac said eight other generals were given new assignments, including Maj. Gen. Gilberto Cruz, chief of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations-Northern Luzon, and Maj. Gen. Jose Chiquito Malayo, director of the PNP Academy, are swapping posts.
Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Luis Licup, PNP director for operations, was re-assigned as PNP director for comptrollership, replacing Maj. Gen. Marni Marcos Jr. who was reassigned to the office of the PNP chief.
Licup’s previous post will go to Brig. Gen. Alfred Corpuz, director of the Soccskargen regional police office.
PNP Crime Laboratory director Brig. Gen. Rolando Hinanay was also re-assigned to be the PNP director for personnel and records management.
