PNP returns Magtibay as MPD chief

MANILA, Philippines - Newly appointed Northern Police District (NPD) director Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay was reassigned back to his former post as chief of the Manila Police District (MPD) yesterday.

Magtibay was transferred last Friday to the NPD to take over the leadersip of the Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela (Camanava) police force, considered by some as a “demotion” since the MPD was more of a premier post than the NPD. Magtibay accepted his new posting, saying he is “beholden to the wishes of the (Philippine National Police or PNP) leadership.”  

The return of Magtibay at the MPD was seen by many as an acceptable compromise for PNP officials and Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim to break the leadership impasse at the premier police force.

Since Magtibay left the MPD, the Manila police was only headed by an officer-in-charge, Senior Superintendent Fidel Posadas, who concurrently serves as deputy district director for administration and deputy district director for operations.

Lim reportedly turned down a list of three police officials submitted by the PNP for him to choose the next MPD chief. Lim was reportedly rooting for his protégé, Senior Superintendent Alex Gutierrez, the current chief of staff, to become the MPD chief. However, Gutierrez is not among those being considered by the PNP’s Senior Officers Promotion and Placement Board (SOPPB) for the post because he is a junior official.

The mayor of Manila has the final say on who should head the MPD.

The STAR tried to get Magtibay’s reaction but he was still at the NPD headquarters preparing for his transfer.

Senior Superintendent Edgardo Ladao, the MPD’s former deputy director for administration who was recently transferred to PNP’s firearms licensing unit, took over the NPD’s top post yesterday.