27 police generals to retire this year

At least 27 police generals, including Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa are set to retire this year upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.

Dela Rosa turned 56 years old last Jan. 21 but President Duterte extended his term for another three months to continue the fight against illegal drugs, a promise that the Chief Executive made during presidential campaign.

With the term extension, Dela Rosa will leave the PNP on April 21.

Aside from Dela Rosa, Deputy Director General Ramon Apolinario, the deputy director for administration will retire on Aug. 31 while Director Rene Aspera will retire on May 7.

Duterte named Dela Rosa, Apolinario and Aspera as among his personal choices to be the chief of the PNP during his six-year term. With the three-month term extension for Dela Rosa, Apolinario will have only four months left in office while Aspera will have only 16 days left.

Former PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor, now the deputy director of the Directorate for Operations will retire on Sept. 24.

Director Ramon Purugganan, chief of the Directorate for Comptrollership, will retire on Dec. 19, while Director Efren Perez, chief of the Directorate for Research and Development will retire on June 18.

Director Napoleon Taas, chief of the Directorate for Information and Communications Technology Management, will bow out of police service on June 20, while Director Gilbert Sosa, chief of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (DIPO) Northern Luzon, will retire on Aug. 10.

DIPO Eastern Mindanao Director Jose Gentilles will retire on Sept. 19, while DIPO Western Mindanao Director Noel Constantino will retire on Dec. 8 and Chief Superintendent Philip Gil Phillips will retire on Dec. 29.

Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Director Roel Obusan will retire on Nov. 20 while Civil Security Group chief Director Federico Dulay will retire on June 24.

Five police regional directors are also set to retire this year, namely, Chief Superintendents Antonio Gardiola of Region 5/ Bicol (July 6), Robert Quenery of Region 7/Central Visayas (Sept. 12), Billy Beltran of Region 9/Western Mindanao (Oct. 9), Manuel Gaerlan of Region 11/Southern Mindanao (Aug. 18) and Jose Briones of Region 12/Central Mindanao (May 8).

The retirement of nine other police officers this year is seen to trigger a reorganization in the police force.