Palace promotes new batch of police, military officials

President Arroyo has promoted to police director Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group chief Eduardo Matillano along with several other police and military officials.

PNP director for community relations Director Ricardo de Leon said Matillano was promoted to two-star rank along with five other officials who were named chief superintendents, or one-star police generals.

Matillano belongs to the controversial Philippine Military Academy Class of 1971 which includes Senators Gregorio Honasan and Panfilo Lacson.

Promoted to chief superintendent were Oscar Valenzuela of the PNP Community Relations Group, PNP Crime Laboratory chief Restituto Mosqueda, Northern Police District chief Marcelino Franco, Central Police District chief Napoleon Castro and Servando Hizon of the PNP Special Action Force.

Also promoted to one-star rank was Victor Corpus, chief of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP). Corpus was among the 58 military officials who were promoted last week. — Christina Mendez