No revamp, says new WPD chief

There will be no revamp, at least none yet, in the ranks of the Western Police District with the appointment of a new district director.

This was the assurance given by newly-installed WPD director Senior Superintendent Nicolas Pasinos Jr.

Pasinos said a reshuffle of the WPD’s 11 police stations is the "least of his concerns at the moment."

Pasinos, a member of Philippine Military Academy class of 1974, replaced Chief Superintendent Avelino Razon Jr., his "mistah" or classmate at the academy.

Prior to assuming the post as WPD director, Pasinos served as deputy director for operations of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) in Camp Crame.

Razon, who served two terms as WPD chief, took over as Central Visayas police director vice Chief Superintendent Tiburcio Fusilero, a member of PMA Class 1971.

According to reports, Fusilero was ordered relieved by Camp Crame after he allegedly openly campaigned for former National Police chief Director General Panfilo Lacson, who is gunning for a Senate seat under the Puwersa ng Masa party of ousted President Joseph Estrada.

The simple turnover ceremonies at the WPD headquarters took place late Friday afternoon. Razon earlier said that the turnover ceremonies was scheduled for Monday. Overseeing the turnover was Chief Superintendent Efren Fernandez, a member of PMA Class 1971 and a former WPD director himself.

It was earlier reported that the rank and file of the WPD are bracing for a massive revamp following the change in command.

Joining Razon in his new regional office in Cebu City are Superintendents Jonathan Miano, chief of the WPD Intelligence and Investigation Division and Josephus Angan, Police Station 2 (Moriones, Tondo) commander.

Minao 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 as Ermita police station chief by Superintendent Luis Saligumba, current commander of the Balic-Balic police station (Station 4). No replacements have been named yet for Saligumba and Diaz.