PNP: No displacement of cops amid area commands’ deactivation

MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday assured that no police personnel would be displaced following the National Police Commission’s (Napolcom) move to deactivate the force’s Area Police Command (APC), previously known as the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations.

The PNP has five APCs –Northern Luzon, Southern Luzon, Visayas, Eastern Mindanao, and Western Mindanao– all of which should be headed by three-star police generals based on the existing rules.

The PNP anticipated retirements in the coming weeks, if not months. Definitely, those generals who will be affected by the deactivation of the APCs will be included among the personnel who are projected to fill up some vacancies, said PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said in a press briefing at Camp Crame, Quezon City.

She said the move affected at least 158 second-level personnel with the rank of lieutenant colonel down to corporal and 26 third-level officers with the rank of lieutenant general down to colonel.

Fajardo said PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil pushed for a gradual transition to ensure third-level officers would be designated to the right positions.

“Supposedly, it is set to be implemented within this month, but the chief PNP requested more time to ensure that none of the affected personnel will be displaced,” she said.

Fajardo said those affected by the APCs’ deactivation might be transferred to the newly created Police Regional Office (PRO) 18 or Negros Island Region (NIR).

“In the NIR alone, a large number of personnel can be accommodated there, including third-level positions such as the regional director, the deputies, and the provincial directors. We also have the regional staff. These are positions that third-level officers should occupy,” she said.

Meanwhile, Fajardo said second-level officers can also be accommodated in other regions and even in the national headquarters.

“Once we dissolve these APCs, we can also save funds and realign these funds intended for APCs for our priority projects that could further improve or enhance the operational capabilities of our regional offices,” she added.

Based on the Napolcom resolution dated Dec. 27, 2024, the deactivation of APCs shall involve the transfer/placement of personnel, the transition of funds, pertinent documents, equipment, firearms, vehicles, facilities, other assets, and legal liabilities.

The Senior Officers Placement and Promotion Board (SOPPB) shall be responsible for placing the third-level key officers affected by the units’ deactivation.

“The Directorate for Operations shall continually assume the supervision and operational control over the PROs (Police Regional Office) in the performance of their taking cognizance of the functions as a result of the deactivation of the APCs, according to established functional relationships, line of authority and coordination as provided in the PNP organizational structure,” the resolution read.

The late PNP chief Camilo Cascolan established the APC in 2022 to synchronize the force’s operations with the military, which has the same number of area commands. with a report from PNA