Manila police force gets new director Monday

The Western Police District will definitely get a new director on Monday. WPD director Chief Superintendent Avelino Razon Jr. said yesterday he is definitely assuming the post of Central Visayas police director on Monday replacing Chief Superintendent Tiburcio Fusilero.

"The Commission on Elections has approved my transfer. I will be assuming my new post on Monday," Razon told members of the WPD Press Corps in his last weekly "Ugnayan sa WPD" appearance.

According to Razon, Camp Crame has recommended to Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, Senior Superintendent Nicolas Pasinos, as the new WPD commander. Razon recommended Senior Superintendent Marcelino Franco, WPD deputy director for administration, as his prospective successor. Franco, Pasinos and Razon are members of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1974.

But Razon said that the coveted post will most likely go to Pasinos, current deputy director for operations of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group headquarters in Camp Crame.

Razon said Camp Crame is grooming Franco for another juicy position at the National Capital Regional Police Office.

According to Razon, the final transfer orders and his definite replacement will be named by Camp Crame today.

Razon revealed that Fusilero, a member of PMA class 1971, was ordered relieved by Camp Crame for allegedly actively campaigning for former PNP chief Director General Panfilo Lacson, his classmate, who is running for a Senate seat under the party of ousted President Joseph Estrada.

With Razon’s transfer, the district is now bracing for a massive revamp.

Razon himself announced that he is bringing with him to his new office in Cebu City, Superintendent Jonathan Miano, chief of the WPD Intelligence and Investigation Division and Superintendent Josephus Angan, Police Station 2 (Moriones, Tondo) commander.

Miano will be replaced by Superintendent Miguel Laurel, commander of the Ermita Police Station (Station 5); while Angan will be replaced by Superintendent Bernardo Diaz, now head of the WPD Human Resource and Doctrine Development Division.

Razon said Laurel will be replaced by Ermita police station chief, Superintendent Luis Saligumba, current commander of the Balic-Balic police station (Station 4). No replacements have been named yet for Saligumba and Diaz.

Razon said his transfer was "most welcomed" by Manila Mayor Lito Atienza. "He has approved my transfer to a regional post even before the elections. In fact, he has approved of Col. Franco as my replacement," he said.

Razon served for two years as WPD director under the Ramon administration. He was later reassigned to the same position in December 1999, succeeding Chief Superintendent Efren Fernandez. Prior to his assignments at the WPD, Razon served as commander of the Presidential Security Group.