(PNA photo by Lloyd Caliwan)
MANILA – Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. on Monday announced that 54 senior police officials and mid-level police officers got their promotions to higher ranks.
Abalos, along with PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency officials, made the announcement after National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Maj. Gen. Jonnel Estomo presented NCRPO's accomplishments in a press briefing at Camp Bagong Diwa, Taguig City.
The promoted officers were led by Maj. Gen. Rhoderick Armamento, commander of the Area Police Command-Southern Luzon, who was elevated to the rank of Lieutenant General.
Eight brigadier generals were promoted to the rank of major general, including Estomo, and Bernard Banac, PNP director for plans.
Meanwhile, the six other new major generals were Jon Arnaldo (PNP director for human resource and doctrine development), Mario Reyes (PNP director for police-community relations), Eric Noble (PNP Academy director), Ritchie Posadas (deputy commander of the Area Police Command-Southern Luzon), Emmanuel Peralta (PNP director for operations) and Edgar Alan Okubo (Special Action Force director).
Abalos urged the newly-promoted officers to help in the government’s intensified war against illegal drugs.
Azurin thanked Abalos, chairman of the National Police Commission, for the promotion of the police officers.
“This is a very good Christmas present to our policemen, that finally, their promotion came out,” he said.
Twenty-one colonels were promoted to the rank of brigadier general and 24 lieutenant colonels were promoted to colonel.
One of the colonels promoted to Brigadier General was Mark Pespes, commander of the PNP Headquarters Support Service at Camp Crame.
Pespes was among those who responded to the botched escape of Abu Sayyaf leader Idang Susukan and Daulah Islamiyah members Arnel Cabintoy and Feliciano Sulayao Jr. from the PNP Custodial Center at Camp Crame on Oct. 9.
Susukan and Cabintoy were shot by a sniper after they stabbed and wounded a police officer, who was delivering food for the detainees, during their planned escape.
Sulayao ran to the cell of former senator Leila de Lima and tied, blindfolded and took her hostage.
Pespes negotiated for the release of de Lima for about 10 to 15 minutes before shooting Sumayao dead while giving drinking water to Sulayao who threatened to kill the former senator.
De Lima, who has been detained at the PNP jail facility since 2017 on drug-related charges, was not hurt during the hostage-taking incident. (PNA)
