Abalos: Process should be followed
INTERIOR Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. yesterday said an order issued by PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. reassigning the chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and seven other police generals needs the confirmation of the National Police Commission and approval of President Marcos Jr.
“We want to clarify that there is a process that should be followed,” said Abalos, the Napolcom chairman.
Abalos said the list of officials affected by the revamp should be submitted to Napolcom for “confirmation.”
“Once confirmed by Napolcom, the list will be submitted to the President for his approval,” added Abalos.
Under the revamp, NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo was designated as the PNP director for police community relations, a lower post.
Okubu’s successor as NCRPO chief is PNP director for intelligence Maj. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez.
Okubo replaced Maj. Gen. Mario Albitos Reyes, who was named the PNP director for logistics.
The post of PNP director for logistics was vacated on June 13 by Maj. Gen. Rolando Olay, who reached the retirement age of 56.
Succeeding Nartatez as PNP director for intelligence is PNP director for human resource and doctrine development Maj. Gen. Jon Arandia Arnaldo, who will be succeeded by PNP deputy director for intelligence Brig. Gen. Ronald Oliver Lee.
PNP Academy director Maj. Gen. Eric Escosio Noble was named PNP director for investigation and detection management, vice Maj. Gen. Eliseo Cruz who retired on June 14.
Brig. Gen. Samuel Camarista Nacion, PNP deputy director for investigation and detection management, was named the new PNP Academy director, vice Noble.
Brig. Gen. Alan Molintas Nazarro, PNP deputy director for information and communications technology management, is now director of the PNP Highway Patrol Group (HPG), vice HPG officer-in-charge Col. William Segun.
Under Section 6 of Napolcom Memorandum Circular No. 2019-001, Abalos said designation to such positions “shall be submitted to the Commission for confirmation prior to the submission of the same to the President for approval.”
The memorandum says Napolcom has 30 days, from the receipt of proposed assignments, to review or approve the assignments or designations. If the period expires, such assignments are deemed approved.
Upon approval of such assignments, the PNP directorate for personnel and records management will issue the appropriate orders.
Abalos said Napolcom’s authority on the matter stems from the 1987 Constitution which says “The State shall establish and maintain one police force, which shall be national in scope and civilian in character, to be administered and controlled by a national police commission.
“Civilian control over the police is a hallowed principle of our fundamental law. Rest assured that the Napolcom will carry out its duty to oversee and enhance the administration of the PNP,” said Abalos.
The post of NCRPO director is one of the most coveted positions in the PNP. Several officials have been named PNP chief while serving as NCRPO director, including Maj. Generals Oscar Albayalde and Debold Sinas during the time of former President Duterte.
Okubo’s reassignment is seen as a demotion. Okubo assumed the post of NCRPO director just last March during the time of Acorda’s predecessor, now retired Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr.
The last major revamp ordered by Acorda was in May. It affected five generals, including then PNP deputy chief for operations Maj. Gen. Jonnel Estomo, the PNP’s No. 3 man, who was given the lower post of PNP director for plans.
