MPD gets permanent chief; new posts for 3 others

The Manila Police District (MPD) is finally getting a permanent chief while three others directors will get new posts, part of the movement triggered by recent promotions at the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

Reports circulating at Camp Crame indicated that Chief Superintendents Nicasio Radovan and Leopoldo Bataoil would be given plum assignments in the second round of reshuffling under the leadership of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Calderon.

Radovan, the director of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), would be heading the Police Regional Office 4-A (PRO4-A), while Bataoil, director of the Northern Police District (NPD), would be commanding PRO1 (Region 1).

Radovan replaces Chief Superintendent Prospero Noble, who retired last Sept. 25 after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56, while Bataoil takes over the post vacated by Chief Superintendent Alfredo de Veyra, who retired last Sept. 20.

Calderon would make the formal announcement of the second round of new postings of PNP officials, including Radovan’s and Bataoil’s new designations, this week.

Because of the promotions, there would be slight movement of officials at the NCRPO to fill up the vacancies.

A Camp Crame official said Senior Superintendent Ricardo Padilla, acting director of the Southern Police District (SPD), is headed for Camanava to replace Bataoil as NPD chief.

To replace Padilla at the SPD is Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales, executive officer (Ex-O) of the PNP Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development (DHRDD), while Senior Superintendent Magtanggol Gatdula, the deputy chief of the Directorate for Logistics (DL), will take over Radovan’s post.

Gatdula is Radovan’s former deputy for administration.

Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent Danilo Abarzosa, officer-in-charge (OIC) of the MPD, has been made permanent at his post, sources said.

Abarzosa had beeen named OIC of the MPD following the retirement of Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong last Aug. 1.

During his watch, Abarzosa shut down illegal gambling operations in Manila and cleared Quiapo and Divisoria of illegal vendors.

Manila Mayor Lito Atienza has been satisfied with the performance of Abarzosa in the last two months.

Abarzosa declined to comment on his new status."Salamat naman kung totoo. Pero no comment muna ako hangga’t di ko pa natatanggap ang order ng Camp Crame," he said.

Though visibly pleased, Abarzosa said his priority right now is the clean up of the streets of Manila in the aftermath of Typhoon Milenyo.

Abarzosa ordered the 11 Manila police stations to assist in the clearing operations. He also personally supervised the cleanup.

"Inutusan ko ang mga police station commanders na lumabas at tumulong sa pag-aalis ng mga natumbang puno. Kailangan dito ang pagtutulungan ng lahat ng sektor para mapadali ang pag-lilinis," Abarzosa told The STAR.

Deputy Director General Avelino Razon Jr., the PNP deputy chief for administration, admitted that the promotion of Radovan and Bataoil, the case of Abarzosa and those of the three other police officials had been discussed at the Senior Officers Placement and Promotions Board (SOPPB).

No formal order has been released, Razon clarified.

The SOPPB, which Razon chairs, will meet on Wednesday to finalize the appointment of the said officials.

When reached for comment, Metro police chief Director Reynaldo Varilla said he has received no order as yet regarding the new designations.

"Anyway, I can work with anybody," said Varilla, when informed of the permanent appointment of Abarzosa and the new assignments of Padilla, Gatdula and Rosales.

Radovan belongs to Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class ’74; Bataoil and Gatdula belong to Class ’76; Padilla belongs to Class ’77 while Rosales belongs to Class ’78. Abarzosa is a product of the PNP Academy Class ’80.

In another development, Superintendent Gilbert Cruz would be assuming command of the Makati City police force starting today.

Cruz, of PNP Academy Class ’86, is replacing Superintendent Napoleon Napoles, who was given a new assignment at PRO4-A.

Varilla directed Cruz to work for the early solution to the recent ambush-slaying of Lito Glean, the chief security officer of Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay.

"I told him (Cruz) to continue the probe on the killing of Glean. He must coordinate with Mayor Binay for the early solution of the case," Varilla said.

Cruz was a former chief of police of San Juan town. He served for a while as information officer of the Eastern Police District (EPD) before taking the job as chief of police of Cainta town. – With Nestor Etolle