PNP legal chief heads CIDG

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) has a new director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), the police force’s investigating arm.

Chief Superintendent Frank Uyami took over the CIDG’s top post in a turnover ceremony yesterday.

“I congratulate you for a job well done in the past, I expect you to do the same in your present positions,” said PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima.

Uyami, former Director of the PNP Legal Service, formally assumed command as the 43rd director of the CIDG, the premier investigative unit of the PNP and operational arm of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management.

Uyami is a member of the Philippine Military Academy “Sandigan” Class 1982. He was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 1990.

Uyami’s name was hardly mentioned as among the strong contenders to head the CIDG, which has its own regional, provincial and district units.

Names earlier floated as a possible replacement for Director Samuel Pagdilao Jr. in the CIDG are Director Napoleon Estilles, a lawyer and has a doctorate studies, Director Gil Meneses of Civil Security Group, Chief Superintendent Wilson Victorio and Central Luzon director Chief Superintendent Edgardo Ladao.

Purisima also installed Chief Superintendent Rolando Purugganan as PNP Director for Comptrollership vice Director Roque Ramirez, who was reassigned to head the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (DIPO) in Visayas.

He said Chief Superintendent Mario Avenido is now the director of PNP Finance Service while Senior Superintendent Jeffrey Manere is the director of the Legal Service.