Calderon earns three-star rank

President Arroyo has approved the promotion of Gen. Oscar Calderon to Police Deputy Director with a three-star ranking.

A graduate of Philippine Military Academy Class 1973, Calderon, the incumbent Philippine National Police (PNP) chief of directorial staff, spent most of his career as junior officer in the field fighting insurgents in various parts of Luzon and Visayas as well as secessionist rebels in Mindanao.

Calderon, 53, was described by PNP chief Gen. Arturo Lomibao as the "Chief PNP in waiting" during the recent Manila Overseas Press Club (MOPC) forum held at the Hotel Intercontinental in Makati City.

His current assignment as chief of directorial staff makes him the Chief PNP’s workhorse and in charge of the overall supervision of the jobs of all members of the directorial staff like the directorates for comptrollership, plans, intelligence and logistics, among others.

One of his former superiors, retired Police Chief Superior Lucas Managuelod, said Calderon is a mild-mannered officer, soft spoken and very professional.

Calderon served as Managuelod’s executive officer at the PNP Directorate for Investigation and Detective management and chief of staff when he was PNP Southern Tagalog (Region 4) director. — Cecille Suerte Felipe