Metro police officers reshuffled

MANILA, Philippines - The retirement yesterday of Director Magtanggol Gatdula, head of the Directorate for Information Technology and Computer Management of the Philippine National Police triggered a minor reshuffle at the PNP.

Gatdula retired from the police service after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.

PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa presided over the retirement ceremonies for Gatdula at the PNP grounds in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Verzoza and Gatdula belong to the Philippine Military Academy Class ’76.

Gatdula will be replaced by Chief Superintendent George Piano, whose post as head of the Directorate for Integrated Police Office (DIPO) Visayas, will be taken over by Chief Superintendent Jaime Calungsud, director of the Southern Police District.

Calungsud will be replaced by Chief Superintendent Jose Arni de los Santos, the deputy director for operations of the National Capital Regional Police Office.

NCRPO chief Director Roberto Rosales will preside over the turnover ceremony for the incoming SPD chief at 7 a.m. today in Fort Bonifacio in Makati City. Rosales said de los Santos will be replaced by Chief Superintendent Mike Laurel, the NCRPO’s chief of directorial staff.

Laurel will be replaced by Senior Superintendent Henry Lozanes, the former chief of directorial staff of the SPD.

Piano and Calungsud belong to the PMA Class ’78, de Los Santos to the PMA Class ’79 while Laurel and Lozanes of PMA Class ’82.

At least three other ranking officials of the PNP will retire this month and another minor reshuffle is expected.

The STAR learned that those who will retire this month are Director Felizardo Serapio, head of the DIPO Western Mindanao on June 13; Chief Superintendent Constante Azares, director of the Police Regional Office 1 (PRO1) on June 22 and Chief Superintendent Isagani Cuevas, of PRO6, on June 27.