PNoy swears in 39 newly promoted police generals

President Benigno Aquino III on Wednesday swore in 39 newly promoted Philippine National Police (PNP) generals.

Leading the inductees were Police Deputy Director Generals Leonardo Espina, deputy chief for operations, and Marcelo Garbo Jr., chief of the PNP directorial staff. Espina and Garbo were promoted to a rank equivalent to a lieutenant general in the military.

Also sworn in were 15 new police directors, including the head of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Benjamin Magalong.

Other police directors include Ronaldo Purugganan, Francisco Uyami, Jr., Francisco Don Montenegro, Charles Calima, Jr., Ricardo Marquez, Jamie Morente, Rodrigo de Gracia, Melito Mabilin, Getulio Napeñas, Jose Jorge Corpuz, Catalino Rodriquez, Jr., Juanito Vaño, Jr., Edgardo Inking, and Danilo Constantino.

Aquino also administered the oath of 23 new police chief superintendents, led by PNP spokesman Reuben Theodore Sindac.

Other inductees include Police Chief Superintendents Richard Albano, Asher Dalina, Prudencio Tom Bañas, Jose Getiles, Robert Kiunisala, Ferdinand Sevilla, Abelardo Villacorta, Edgar Basbas, Rodel Calungsud, Diodado Valeroso, Edwin Erni, Manolito Labador, Oriel Bragais, Wilfredo Franco, David Ombao, Ferdinand Yuzon, Ronaldo Asuncion, Rene Ong, Antonio Viernes, Augusto Marquez, Jr., and Danilo Pelisod.

A police director has the equivalent military rank of major general, while a police chief superintendent is equivalent to a brigadier general.

New appointees

Malacañang also announced on Wednesday the appointment of new officials to various government agencies.

In an e-mail, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. announced the appointment of Jan Co Chua as Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) undersecretary.

Aquino also appointed three new officials to the National Security Council: Ma. Carmina Acuña as assistant director ceneral; Lorenzo Clavejo as Director V; and, Ruperta Salvanera as acting Director III.

Other new appointees also include:

- Christine Antonio as Director IV for the Public-Private Partnership Center of the Philippines under the National Economic Development Authority;
- Allan Montaño as member of the Board of Trustees of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration representing the Labor Sector;
- Benjo Santos Benavidez as Acting Director IV of the Department of Labor and Employment;
- Ma. Vilma Diez as Acting Director III of the Department of Health;
- Raul Serrano as member of the Board of Directors of the Development Bank of the Philippines;
- John Eulalio Nepomuceno Aparis II as regular member of the Sangguniang Panglungsod of Ormoc City, Leyte; and
- Alberto Escobarte as Acting Director IV of the Department of Education (DepEd).

—Andreo Calonzo/KBK, GMA News