PNP appoints new spox

Bulalacao’s appointment was announced a day after the PNP returned Oplan Lower Barrel or Oplan Tokhang (Photo: Philippine National Police/Facebook)

Apart from implementing new guidelines in their return to the war on drugs operations, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is also having a new face and voice to represent the police.

PNP Chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa announced to the media on Tuesday that PNP’s Public Information Office (PIO) will have Chief Superintendent John Bulalacao as its head as well as PNP’s new spokesperson.

This post appointment will expect him to head press briefings and speak on behalf of dela Rosa.

Bulalacao was appointed to replace Chief Superintendent Dionardo Carlos, who has been the police’s spokesman since August 2016. Carlos is now the chief of the PNP Aviation Security Group in the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) replacing Chief Superintendent Sheldon Jacaban who reached his mandatory retirement age of 56.

The new spokesperson used to be the Provincial Director of Cavite provincial police, the Assistant Chief of the Management Division of PNP’s Firearms and Explosives Office, Directorial Staff of the Metro Manila Police, Logistics Support Service, and Chief of Staff of the Civil Security Group.

Carlos and Bulalacao are also batchmates in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Maringal class of 1988.

Bulalacao’s appointment was announced a day after the PNP returned Oplan Lower Barrel or Oplan Tokhang.

(Read: Tokhang returns; requires human rights advocate in ops)

Due to the controversies and criticisms that surrounded the anti-drug operations, dela Rosa signed new guidelines last week.

Written in its guidelines, “The Tokhang team shall be joined by at least one representative from any concerned ADAC (anti-drug abuse council), at least one representative from PNP HRAO (Human Rights Affairs Office) or any Human Rights Advocate.”

On October 12, PNP stopped its anti-illegal drug operations as Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) took the lead in the President’s campaign versus illegal drugs.