HPG chief Gardiola tapped to lead Region 5 police

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa has tapped Highway Patrol Group director Chief Supt. Antonio Gardiola to lead the Region 5 police, whose regional director Chief Supt Melvin Ramon Buenafe retired Monday.

Dela Rosa on Monday led the turnover of command ceremony at Police Regional Office 5 in Camp Ola, Legaspi City, Albay.

Appointed to take the place of Gardiola at HPG is Chief Supt. Arnel Escobal, a member of Philippine Military Academy class 1987.

He was the deputy regional director for administration of Region 6.

Meanwhile, Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge Catalino Cuy announced Monday the promotion of four senior officers of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) to the rank of Chief Superintendent equivalent to the rank of one-star general.

Cuy identified the newly-promoted fire and jail officers as F/Sr. Supt. Louie Suralta Puracan, J/Sr. Supt. Ignacio Sarabia Panti, J/Sr. Supt. Dennis Uvas Rocamora, and J/Sr. Supt. Efren Altamira Nemeno.

He said the new one-star generals are all graduates of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA).

Puracan is from Class 1992 and presently the Regional Director of BFP Region 12, while Panti belongs to Class 1989 and is the Chief, Directorial Staff of the Office of the Director, BJMP-NHQ.

From Class 1995 is Rocamora who is also the Regional Director of BJMP Region 7, while Nemeno is a member of Class 1994 and the Regional Director of BJMP Region 9.

The four officers took their oath before Cuy late last week at the DILG-NAPOLCOM Center Building in Quezon City.

The officers were endorsed by the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and recommended by former DILG Secretary Ismael Sueno.  Their promotions were approved by President Rodrigo Duterte last June 28. — BM, GMA News