NEW CHIEF. Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil visits a police unit in Eastern Samar during his stint as regional director for Eastern Visayas in this Sept. 30, 2022 photo. The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Eastern Visayas welcomed his appointment as the new PNP chief. (Photo courtesy of Police Regional Office 8)
TACLOBAN CITY – The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Eastern Visayas (Region 8) welcomed the appointment of new PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, who served as regional director here last year.
“With his exemplary leadership and unwavering commitment to duty, we have full confidence that Police General Marbil will continue to advance and uphold the noble ideals of the organization,” the police regional office 8 (PRO8) said.
PRO 8 said they remain committed to upholding and supporting the plans and programs of the PNP to ensure efficient police service to the community.
Marbil served as PRO 8 director from August 2022 to May 2023 before his assignment as chief of the PNP Directorate for Comptrollership.
As the regional director here, Marbil formed the Task Force Maharlika in 2022, which aims to prevent crime incidents using the route, starting from Allen in Northern Samar to San Ricardo in Southern Leyte.
The task force has been instrumental in the recovery of PHP7 million worth of shabu confiscated near the Allen port in Northern Samar and transported by a carnapped vehicle.
In January 2023, Marbil facilitated the arrest of high-value target Erwin Ogario, former Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-National Capital Region head, who went hiding in Eastern Samar after being accused of accepting bribes from arrested drug personalities to facilitate their release from detention.
Also, in January last year, Marbil led 21 PNP key officials in Eastern Visayas who submitted their courtesy resignations as part of cleansing the ranks amid allegations of illegal drug involvement.
On Monday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. appointed Marbil as the new chief of the PNP, replacing retired Police General Benjamin Acorda Jr. (PNA)
