Albayalde names new NCRPO chief, spokesman

Philippine National Police chief (PNP) Director General Oscar Albayalde yesterday ordered the reassignment of several high-ranking police officials, including Chief Supt. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar as the next director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

Eleazar was barely two months in his position as director of Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) region when named Metro Manila police chief, replacing Director Camilo Pancratius Cascolan who was transferred to the Civil Security Group (CSG) effective yesterday.

Cascolan, former head of the PNP Directorate for Operations, was just two months in his post as NCRPO chief. He and Albayalde are from the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1986.

Albayalde also designated a new spokesman in Senior Supt. Benigno Durana Jr., replacing Chief Supt. John Bulalacao, who was appointed director of Western Visayas police.

A total of 28 ranking police officials were affected by the reshuffle, which according to Albayalde came after two deliberations by the PNP’s oversight committee.

Albayalde said the reshuffle was triggered by the retirement of several police officials, and considering the performance of the replacement officials, whether they are up for bigger tasks.

“What’s important is we will be able to put the right person in the right position based on their performance,” he said.

Albayalde stressed the appointment of officials to different posts in the police organization is based on merit and not by recommendations from influential personalities.

He added even President Duterte promised not to interfere in the internal affairs of the PNP.

“The President told us that if somebody uses his name, most likely it’s not true,” Albayalde said.

Eleazar, for his part, admitted he became confused with his new post, saying he was getting used to running Region 4A police.

“I have mixed feelings because we are just starting our campaign at PRO 4A,” he said.

But Eleazar thanked Albayalde for the trust and confidence given him to lead the 29,000-strong NCRPO.

He promised to intensify the campaign against illegal drugs and warned suspected drug pushers and users who will offer resistance during law enforcement operations.

During his brief stint at Calabarzon, several drug suspects were killed in alleged legitimate armed encounters with the police.

Eleazar said there is no need for violence so long as drug suspects surrender peacefully.

“We don’t want accidents to happen but we will defend ourselves if there is a need for it,” he said.

Eleazar also promised to strengthen counter-intelligence operations against police scalawags.

The other police officials given new assignments are Director Federico Dulay Jr. from the CSG to the office of the chief PNP; Chief Supt. Edward Carranza from Police Regional Office Cordillera to Calabarzon; Chief Supt. Rolando Nana from NCRPO to Cordillera; Director Napoleon Taas from the Directorate for Information and Communications Technology Management (DICTM) to the office of the chief PNP; Chief Supt. Cesar Hawthorne Binag from Region 6 to DICTM.

Manila police director Chief Supt. Joel Napoleon Coronel has been transferred to the NCRPO with Chief Supt. Rolando Anduyan from the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao replacing him.

Chief Supt. Roberto Fajardo from NCRPO would be transferred to the PNP Highway Patrol Group.

Several police officials were also appointed to other positions at PNP headquarters in Camp Crame and regional police offices.