New PNP chief reshuffles Command Group’s 3 top posts

MANILA – New Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, on Friday ordered the immediate reorganization of the three top posts of the Command Group.

Eleazar named Lt. Gen. Joselito Vera Cruz as the new deputy chief for administration, the PNP’s second-highest official.

Lt. Gen. Ephraim Dickson, the chief of the directorial staff, will replace Vera Cruz as deputy chief for operations, making him the police force’s third-ranking official.

Lt. Gen. Dionardo Carlos, chief of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (DIPO) in the Visayas and former PNP spokesperson, will take the place of Dickson.

Eleazar also ordered the reshuffle of Maj. Gen. Rolando Hinanay from the Civil Security Group (CSG) to Directorate for Personnel and Records Management (DPRM).

The reorganization took effect on Saturday.

On Friday, Eleazar officially became the 26th top police official to take over the post from former PNP chief, Gen. Debold Sinas, after the latter’s mandatory retirement.

In his assumption speech, he said he would not think twice about removing police officers who would taint the image of the PNP.

He also pledged to improve its complaint referral and monitoring system.

Eleazar, Vera Cruz, Dickson, and Sinas all belonged to the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1987.

Eleazar was able to handle all other positions in the PNP Command Group – chief of the directorial staff, deputy chief for operations, and deputy chief for administration.