A THREE-STAR police general yesterday assumed command as chief of the Area Police Command-Northern Luzon in the latest revamp triggered by the retirement of another three-star general.
Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Azurin took the helm of the Area Police Command-Northern Luzon yesterday during rites presided by PNP chief Dionardo Carlos at the PNP national headquarters in Camp Crame.
Azurin, a member of the Philippine Military Academy class of 1989, succeeded Lt. Gen. Marni Marcos, who reached the retirement age of 56 last Friday. Azurin was the commander of the Area Police Command-Southern Luzon before assuming his new position.
Maj. Gen. Rhoderick Armamento, of the PMA class 1990, took over as the new commander of the Area Police Command-Southern Luzon Command, succeeding Azurin.
Armamento’s previous post as director for information and communication technology management went to Brig. Gen. Jon Arnaldo of the PMA class 1991, the outgoing deputy chief for administration of the National Capital Region Police Office.
There was still no word who will be taking the post of Arnaldo as the No. 2 man of the NCRPO.
Azurin assumed command of the Area Police Command-Southern Luzon just last month.
His previous assignments included PNP director for comptrollership, PNP director for information and communication technology management, and director of the Ilocos region police office.
In his address, Azurin vowed to do his best to ensure the May 9 national and local elections in northern Luzon will be peaceful.
“I promise that I will be in control of northern Luzon and you will be d on what is happening,” Azurin told Carlos during the ceremony.
Azurin said the Area Police Command-Northern Luzon will comply with President Duterte’s recent instructions not to allow violence, intimidation and other forms of illegal activities during the elections.
Another round of high-level revamp is expected next week with the retirement of PNP deputy chief for operations Lt. Gen. Ferdinand Divina of the PMA class 1988 and PNP Civil Security Group director Maj. Gen. Joseph Ulysses Gohel of PMA class 1989, who are both bowing out of the service on May 2.
On May 8, Carlos is due to reach the retirement age of 56. Carlos said a turnover ceremony has been scheduled two day before his 56th birthday, which falls on a Sunday.
Among the possible successors of Carlos are PNP deputy chief for administration Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia of the PMA class 1989 and PNP deputy chief for operations Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao of PMA class 1991.
