PAMPANGA

I’ll definitely leave PNP when I retire: Calderon
BY MAR T. SUPNAD

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga – Philippine National Police chief Director-General Oscar Calderon said here he will definitely leave the police service when he reaches soon his mandatory retirement age.

He issued the statemen to erase suspicion that his appointment as PNP chief will be extended by President Arroyo.

Calderon told a group of top police and local officials here August 13 that he has 46 days more before he retires.

The PNP chief was in the Police Regional Police Office here to distribute equipment needed in the anti-crime drive, such as brand-new motorcycles and computers to the seven provinces and cities in Region 3.

Calderon mentioned the “imminent departure” of Chief Supt. Ismael Rafanan, incumbent Region 3 police director.

He said Rafanan’s “2-star rank” will come out soon and that he has to leave a regional post for a higher post.

The PNP chief said there are now several influential people and top police officers lobbying for the post to be vacated by Rafanan and other positions that will be left vacant by the retirement of several top police in Camp Crame.

Calderon did not mention who would replace Rafanan, but newsmen learned that Chief Supt. Errol Pan, incumbent head of the traffic Management Group, could possibly assume the post of regional director here on Aug. 22.

Earlier reports stated that Chief Supt. Ricardo Padilla, deputy chief of NCR Police office, is the most probable successor of Rafanan. But a source said that a powerful politician in Region 3 is opposing the nomination.

Garcia, who had donated patrol vehicles and computers to the Bataan Police Office, was the only governor who graced the rites here for the turnover of 101 motorcycles and computer.