Camp Olivas, Pampanga—National police chief General Oscar Albayalde said on Friday that the organization will undergo major reshuffle with the retirement of some senior officers holding key positions in the Philippine National Police.
“…by September two Directorate for Integrated Police Offices and other senior officers will receive their retirement papers,” said Albayalde on the sidelines of 118th Police Service anniversary ceremonies held in this regional police headquarters.
Albayalde did not mention the specific areas to be affected by the reshuffle but hinted that DIPO’s will surely be replaced by star-rank police officers.
He said Central Luzon will be spared from the revamp as Police Brigadier General Joel Napoleon Coronel is barely eight months in the positiion as regional director of Police Regional Office 3.
Albayalde, who will step down from the service on Nov. 8 this year when he reaches the 56-year mandatory retirement age, declined to name his successor while pointing to Malacañang as the final authority to replace him.
“Wala pa sinasabi ang Presidente kung sino ang papalit..let’s just wait kung sino ang mapipili ng Pangulong [Rodrigo] Duterte,” Albayalde said.
Meanwhile, the PRO3 initiated its own version of reshuffle affecting Police Colonel Oscar Jacildo who was unceremoniously relieved as chief of the Police Community Relations Division. He was placed on floating status at the Regional Holding Administrative Unit.
Jacildo was replaced by Police Lt. Colonel Donato Bait, former deputy chief of the Regional Operations and Plans Division.
Police Colonel Narvin Mangune, director of Angeles City Police Office, will retire on Sept. 9.
Two contenders are jockeying for the ACPO directorship position. They are Police Colonel Bernard Perez and Police Colonel Patrick Sangalang.
Meanwhile, Albayalde has claimed that politics is getting in the way of PNP’s intelligence funds.
“Alam mo naman ‘yung politics sa atin. That’s one hindrance minsan kung bakit hindi tayo makakuha at hindi natin maipresenta sa budget natin iyon,” Albayalde told reporters.
“Kasi there are well political hindrances dito, may mga political obstacles,” he added.
Albayalde has argued that the police organization needs to invest in modern intelligence equipment to address the communist insurgency and terrorism.
“Remember, we have a problem not only on communist movement but also doon sa different threat groups in Mindanao, particularly ‘yung affiliated sa ISIS and Abu Sayyaf Group,” Albayalde said.
“Nag-iba na ‘yung playing field dito. We have one incident already when there is a suicide bomber na local, na Filipino… so kailangan na natin talagang pagtuunan ng pansin ito,” he added.
Under the 2020 proposed budget, the PNP is seeking a total of P184.9 billion, P546 million of which will fund the implementation of the Philippine Anti-Illegal Drug Strategy led by the Dangerous Drugs Board.
The hearing for the PNP budget is slated on Monday, September 2. With PNA