Police general in ‘Traslacion’ phone-grabbing spat promoted

The Philippine National Police (PNP) bared on Friday another round of reorganization in its rank, including the promotion anew of a general who confiscated a journalist’s phone during the “Traslacion” in Manila last month.

Police General Archie Francisco

Gamboa, PNP chief, approved the new designation of Brigadier General Nolasco Bathan as the deputy regional director for administration of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), the second highest post in Metro Manila police force.

Bathan replaced Brig. Gen. Herminio Tadeo who was assigned to lead the PNP Health Service.

Bathan, who was put in hot water last month after confiscating the cellphone of a TV reporter during the Traslacion, was on February 6 from being the Southern Police District (SPD) director to NCRPO deputy regional director for operations, the third in command in the metro police force.

Gamboa said Bathan’s mistah, Brig. Gen. Florendo Quibayen, will assume as the acting NCRPO deputy regional director for operations. Both Bathan and Quibayen belong to the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) Tagapagbuklod Class of 1989.

“Thank you for the trust and confidence especially to the Chief of PNP and to my immediate superior, [NCRPO Director] Major General [Debold] Sinas,” Bathan said.

Meanwhile, Colonel Steve Ludan will take over Quibayen’s vacated post as executive officer of the PNP Directorate for Research and Development.

Gamboa also installed Colonel Jonas Ejoc as acting regional director of the Davao police’s Regional Internal Affairs Service (RIAS-11) effective February 7.

The latest movement came after the revamp last week which affected at least 26 police officials, majority of whom were transferred to the Office of the Chief, PNP for an evaluation of their respective performances.