Cops linked to Lacson fail to get PNP post

MANILA, Philippines - Police officers identified with opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson are allegedly failing to get sensitive positions in the Philippine National Police (PNP), sources said yesterday.

Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Chief Superintendent Magtanggol Gatdula was initially reported to be a candidate to head the Directorate for Operations (DO), a sensitive position in the PNP.

An insider said Gatdula will instead be assigned as chief of the newly established Directorate for Information Technology and Computer Management (DITCM).

Gatdula was the deputy chief for administration of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force (PAOCTF), which Lacson headed in concurrent capacity when he was the PNP chief during President Arroyo’s first term.

Lacson has been criticizing the Arroyo administration, which he accused of pressuring individuals into linking him to the twin murder of publicist Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and his driver, Emmanuel Corbito.

Lacson’s tirades against the administration reportedly do not sit well with Malacañang, sources said.

When contacted by The STAR, Gatdula said he knew nothing about the reshuffle or the effort to prevent him from getting a sensitive position because of his old ties with Lacson. “I’m just doing my job,” he said in a telephone interview.

Sources noted that Gatdula’s accomplishments – improving peace and order and reducing carjacking incidents in Quezon City – as well as his being a classmate of PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa in Philippine Military Academy Class 1976 were reportedly not considered.

Gatdula’s transfer is reportedly part of a pending reshuffle in the PNP. Eight other police officers will be affected by the revamp, which has been deliberated and approved by the PNP Senior Officers’ Placement and Promotions Board (SOPPB).

Although the SOPPB completed the deliberation, the order has to be approved and signed by Verzosa and will be submitted to the National Police Commission and Malacanang for approval.

Gatdula will be replaced by one of his deputies, Senior Superintendent Elmo San Diego.

Also affected by the impending revamp are Chief Superintendent Andres Caro, who will be transferred from Directorate for Integrated Police Operations in East Mindanao to the DO, replacing Silverio Alarcio, who will be detailed as DIPO-Southern Luzon.

Chief Superintendent Eric Javier will be moved from the Northern Police District to DIPO-East Mindanao.

Manila Police District director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales will replace National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Leopoldo Bataoil, who will be assigned to DIPO-Northern Luzon.

Rosales will be replaced by Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay, while Javier’s old position will be taken over by Chief Superintendent Samuel Pagdilao Jr.   – Cecille Suerte Felipe