Banac is new PNP spox

Banac, 48, is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1992, who also served as Provincial Director of Sorsogon, Chief of Diplomatic Protection Unit of the Police Security and Protection Group. (Photo: Philippine National Police/Facebook)

MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) has a new spokesperson.

In an order dated Jan. 21 signed by Deputy Director General Camilo Cascolan, Senior Supt. Bernard Banac was designated as the new spokesperson and acting chief of the PNP Public Information Office (PIO) effective Tuesday.

Banac replaces Chief Supt. Benigno Durana Jr., who was promoted as acting director of the PNP Directorate for Police Community Relations.

Durana, meanwhile, replaces Director Eduardo Garado, who retired from the service on Monday.

“My marching order is to effectively communicate the programs and policies of the PNP with utmost transparency and of great service to the public,” Banac told reporters in his speech during the turn-over ceremony in Camp Crame.

Prior to his designation as PNP spokesperson, Banac is the assistant chief of the PNP Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies, the police group which regulates security agencies.

Banac, 48, is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1992, who also served as Provincial Director of Sorsogon, Chief of Diplomatic Protection Unit of the Police Security and Protection Group.

Banac was former Chief of Staff of the PNP Engineering Service and Senior Executive Assistant to the Chief, PNP in 2015-2016.

He obtained his Master’s Degree in Development Management from the Asian Institute of Management in 1999 and also underwent various training courses in Washington and Louisiana in the United States, Kosovo, Ivory Coast and Thailand.

He also served as a Company Commander of the Special Action Force, as a field-grade officer in 1992.

Banac is a veteran of United Nations peacekeeping missions, where he served as Operations and Planning Officer in the UN Mission in Kosovo in 2009 and Technical Adviser of the UN Police Arms Embargo Cell in Abidjan, Ivory Coast in 2005.