In his first week in office, new top cop Police General Guillermo Eleazar ordered a revamp of the key positions in the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Upon Eleazar’s assumption of his post as PNP chief, Police Lieutenant General Joselito Vera Cruz was promoted to Deputy Chief for Administration, the second highest position in the PNP. Vera Cruz was the Deputy Chief for Operations prior to this.

Police Lieutenant General Israel Ephraim Dickson is the new Deputy Chief for Operations. 

Vera Cruz and Dickson belong to the Philippine Military Academy Hinirang Class of 1987, along with Eleazar and retired PNP chief Debold Sinas. 

Former PNP spokesperson Police Lieutenant General Dionardo Carlos was appointed the Chief Directorial Staff, a position formerly held by Dickson. He previously served as the director for Integrated Police Operations (DIPO) Visayas. 

Carlos is a member of the PMA Maringal Class of 1988. 

Their new appointments took effect on May 8, a day after Eleazar assumed his post as PNP chief.

Reshuffling in other positions

Eleazar also ordered a reshuffle in some police units.

Police Major General Bernabe Balba, Special Action Force (SAF) chief, was named as the new chief of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (DIPO) in Visayas.

The new SAF chief is Police Brigadier General Felipe Natividad, who was Calabarzon police chief prior to his new assignment. He was replaced by Police Brigadier General Eliseo Cruz, who served as Southern Police District chief.

Northern Police District chief Police Brigadier General Nelson Bondoc was promoted as Mimaropa police chief.

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DIPO Western Mindanao chief Police Brigadier General Jose Hidalgo was transferred to the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) for a staff position. Police Colonel Randy Peralta from the Office of the Chief PNP took over Hidalgo’s post.

The reshuffling of the key positions is important for the new PNP chief to ensure that both the administrative and operations aspects in the management of the PNP will be synchronized with his directives. – Rappler.com