Outgoing SPD director says his relief 'a regular thing' at PNP

MANILA, Philippines - Outgoing Southern Police District (SPD) director, Chief Superintendent Jose Erwin Villacorte on Thursday said he was not surprised with the decision of Camp Crame and Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas to relieve him and three other district directors of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

“We come and go. It is a regular thing sa PNP (Philippine National Police),” said Villacorte.

Villacorte who formally assumed his post as SPD director on Jan. 22, 2013, said he is still waiting for official orders from the PNP headquarters on where his next assignment would be.

“Hintay lang ng orders,” he said.

Prior to his assignment as SPD director, Villacorte was previously assigned with the Philippine National Police’s Directorate for Personnel and Records Management Office (DPRM) at Camp Crame. He replaced Chief Superintendent Benito Estipona at the SPD.

Villacorte will be replaced by Chief Superintendent Henry Ranola.

Aside from Villacorte, also ordered relieved were Chief Superintendents Richard Albano of the Quezon City Police District, Rolando Asuncion of the Manila Police District and Edgardo Layug of the Northern Police District.

Roxas accepted the recommendations of National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Carmelo Valmoria to replace the police officials. PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima concurred with the relief of the officials and recommended their replacements.

Albano was replaced by Senior Superintendent Joel Pagdilao, Asuncion by Senior Superintendent Rolando Nana, and Layug by Chief Superintendent Jonathan Ferdinand Miano.

Only Eastern Police District director Chief Superintendent Abelardo Villacorta was retained among district directors of the NCRPO.

In a statement, Roxas said the relief was part of the reinvigorated anti-criminality campaign for Metro Manila.

Malacañang, for its part, said the “new assignments are part of the intensified anti-criminality efforts” being instituted by Roxas in Metro Manila.