Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Philippine National Police announced on Thursday the replacement of outgoing PNP Deputy Chief for Operations Director Benjamin Magalong — who is retiring.
Directorial Staff chief Deputy Director General Ramon Apolinario took over Magalong’s post, making him the third highest police officer in the country.
Apolinario, a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Sandiwa Class of 1985, was among the contenders to become the PNP Chief when President Rodrigo Duterte assumed his post.
Directorate for Personnel Records Management (DPRM) chief Dir. Fernando Mendez now joins the command group as the new directorial staff chief.
Mendez was among officers who planned Oplan Exodus, that resulted in the death of terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir alias Marwan and
the tragic deaths of 44 Special Action Force Commandos–in what is nowknown as the Mamamasapano clash.
Mendez is a member of PMA Sandiwa Class of 1986 — a classmate of PNP Chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa.
Other new appointments in the PNP include:
• CSupt. Ramon Purugganan – Acting Director for Personnel and Records
Management (DPRM);
• CSupt. Edwin Roque – Acting Director for Plans (DPL);
• SSupt. Manolo Ozaeta – Acting Director, Legal Service; and
• Ssupt. Glen Dumlao- Acting Director, Anti-Kidnapping Group
Dumlao was the architect of the anti-gambling and organized crime campaign Oplan Armado, that resulted to the deaths of 13 people, in an incident now known as the Atimonan Massacre in 2013.
Dela Rosa approved the appointment of the senior officers upon the recommendation of the Senior Officers Placement and Promotion Board.
