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By Chito Chavez, August 21 2018; Manila Bulletin
Image Credit to CNN Philippines
The National Police Commission (Napolcom) has approved the upgrading of the rank of the Directors of the PNP Special Action Force (SAF), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Civil Security Group (CSG), Highway Patrol Group (HPG), the Regional Directors of all Police Regional Offices (PROs), and the Director and Commandant of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA).
NApolcom logo(Photo courtesy of www.napolcom.gov.ph/)
Napolcom vice chairman and executive officer Atty. Rogelio T. Casurao issued the statement after the commission en banc issued Resolution No. 2018-406 which approved the rank upgrading.
The rank of the SAF, CIDG and CSG directors, as well as the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) regional director, was upgraded from police director (two-star rank) to police deputy director general (three-star rank).
On the other hand, the rank of the directors of the HPG and PNPA and the regional directors of all PROs, except the NCRPO, was upgraded from police chief superintendent (one-star rank) to police director (two-star rank); while the rank of the commandant of the PNPA was upgraded from police senior superintendent to police chief superintendent (one-star rank).
“The Commission deems it fitting and timely to effect necessary organizational adjustments and upgrading of the rank of the heads of the PROs, National Operational Support Units (NOSUs) of the PNP, and the PNP personnel detailed with the PNPA in consideration of the increasing complexity and expanded scope of mission-critical functions attached to such positions, and the burgeoning size of the PNP which is now 190,000-strong,” Casurao said.
The Commission also has recognized the need to further enhance coordination and inter-operability with counterparts from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and to bolster morale by providing the rank-and-file with more career growth opportunities.
Casurao stressed the upgrading of ranks shall be subject to the provisions of law and existing policies on placement and promotion and that the affected NOSUs, except for the HPG, shall be placed under the operational supervision of the Deputy Chief for Operations.
“The PNP shall issue the necessary guidelines to implement such organizational adjustments as may be necessary to rationalize the functional supervision, line of authority and accountability brought about by said adjustments,” Casurao said.
A copy of the Resolution was forwarded to the Office of the President and the Department of Budget and Management for their consideration and concurrence.
