Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame. File photo.
MANILA, Philippines — Five regional police offices have been assigned new directors in the latest reshuffle of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The changes come just over two weeks after PNP Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III assumed leadership of the law enforcement agency.
In General Orders Nos. NHQ-GO-DES-2025-3127 and 3128, both dated June 18, 2025, the following officers were designated as directors of the respective Police Regional Offices (PRO):
- Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Deputy Director for Administration Brig. Gen. Rolindo Macahilos Suguilon – Acting Regional Director, PRO Northern Mindanao
- Southern Police District (SPD) Director Brig. Gen. Joseph Reyes Arguelles – Acting Regional Director, PRO Davao Region
- PRO Northern Mindanao Director Brig. Gen. Jaysen Carpio De Guzman – Regional Director, PRO Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
- PRO Western Visayas Director Brig. Gen. Jack Limpayos Wanky – Acting Regional Director, PRO Calabarzon
- National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Deputy Regional Director for Administration Brig. Gen. Ponce Rogelio Ibasco Peñones – Acting Regional Director PRO Western Visayas
The same orders gave the following officers these positions in the NCRPO:
- PRO Calabarzon Director Brig. Gen. Paul Kenneth Tuhay Lucas – Acting Deputy Regional Director for Administration
- National Police Training Institute (NPTI) Deputy Director Brig. Gen. Arnold Evangelista Abad – Acting Director, Northern Police District (NPD)
- Directorate for Operations (DO) Deputy Director Brig. Gen. Randy Ygay Arceo – Acting Director, SPD
The two orders also assigned the following to these positions:
- Directorate for Research and Development Director Maj. Gen. Robert Alexander Aguilar Morico II – Officer-in-Charge, Area Police Command – Visayas
- Former Quezon City Police District Director Brig. Gen. Melecio Maddatu Buslig Jr. – Acting Deputy Regional Director for Administration, PRO Mimaropa
- Communications and Electronics Service Director Brig. Gen. Warren Gaspar Appad Tolito – Chief of Staff, PNP Academy
The new assignments are effective Thursday, June 19.
READ: PNP promotes public info chief to brigadier general, 10 cops to colonel
Unit reassignments
Special Orders Nos. NHQ-SO-URA-2025-4249, 4250 and 4251, all dated June 18 and effective June 19, outlined new unit assignments as part of the reshuffle.
PRO Ilocos Region Director Brig. Gen. Lou Frias Evangelista was reassigned to the Directorate for Logistics (DL), while PRO Cagayan Valley Director Brig. Gen. Antonio Pacis Marallag Jr. was reassigned to the Directorate for Operations (DO).
However, the PNP has yet to announce who will replace Evangelista and Marallag as directors of their respective regional offices.
The three special orders also assigned the following to their new units:
- Intelligence Group (IG) Director Brig. Gen. Frankie Castro Candelario – Directorate for Intelligence (DI)
- Human Rights Affairs Office Director Brig. Gen. Jerry Villas Protacio – Information Technology Management Service (ITMS)
- Aviation Security Group (AVSEG) Director Brig. Gen. Christopher Marcial Abecia – Maritime Group
- Directorate for Police Community Relations Executive Officer Brig. Gen. Jonas Tungcugo Amparo – PNP Retirement and Benefits Administration Service
- DI Executive Officer Brig. Gen. Glicerio Caratao Cansilao – Anti-Kidnapping Group (AKG)
- Drug Enforcement Group (DEG) Director Brig. Gen. Jason Lawas Capoy – AVSEG
- PRO Mimaropa Deputy Regional Director for Administration – Brig. Gen. Martin Echavez Defensor Jr. – Finance Service (FS)
- ITMS Director Brig. Gen. Edwin Aguilan Quilates – DEG
- DL Deputy Director Brig. Gen. Noel Bayaca Vallo – Logistics Support Service
- AKG Director Col. David Nicolas Poklay – IG
- Highway Patrol Group Deputy Director for Operations Col. Felix Astrero Verbo Jr. – NPTI
- FS Director Brig. Gen. Ross Clemente Alvarado – DRD
- NPD Director Brig. Gen. Josefino Dico Ligan – PRO 1
- PRO BAR Director Brig. Gen. Romeo Juan Macapaz – CIDG
- LSS Director Brig. Gen. Dindo Regis Reyes – PRO 2
- PRO Davao Region Director Brig. Gen. Leon Victor Zamora Rosete – OCPNP
The orders did not specify which positions the officers were given.
‘For the demands of the position’
In a phone interview with reporters in Camp Crame on Thursday, PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said the reshuffle was part of the agency’s bid to speed up police response.
“We need to put the right people there for the right demands of the position that they will fill up, especially now that the direction is to give fast services, particularly the five-minute police response being targeted,” Fajardo said in Filipino.
Upon taking office as PNP chief earlier this June, Torre set a five-minute target for officers to respond to emergency calls and requests for police assistance.
READ: 8 NCR police chiefs relieved for failure to follow 5-minute response time
Last Monday, Torre relieved eight chiefs of police in Metro Manila for failing to meet the goal.
Fajardo further said more reshuffles can be expected in the coming weeks in anticipation of retiring senior officers./mcm/gsg