New Ilocos PNP director named

By Mar T. Supnad

CAMP GEN. OSCAR FLORENDO, La Union — Chief Supt. Constante D. Azares Jr. assumed Tuesday as Police Regional Office 1 director, replacing Chief Supt. Ramon V. Gatan who retired after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.

A full-blooded Ilocano being a native of Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, Azares expressed gratitude to President Arroyo, Interior and Local Government Secretary Rolando Puno, Philippine National Police Director General Jesus Verzosa, and Ilocos political leaders headed by former governor and Deputy National Security Adviser Luis “Chavit” Singson for giving him the chance to serve in his native home – the Ilocos region.

A noted disciplinarian and highly respected in the PNP organization, Azares said he will introduce various security measures aimed at further making the region more peaceful and orderly.

“A lot of programs such as modernization, strategy on disaster management, among others are on the pipeline to make the PNP more professional and truly a public servant,” Azares added.

Prior to his designation as regional director, Azares held a number of sensitive positions in the PNP, the latest of which being the chief of the Operations Center in Camp Crame, monitoring and managing the daily operations of the PNP in the country.