MANILA (PNA) — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Jesus Verzosa on Friday expressed optimism that the 130,000-strong police organization will be revitalized with a new breed of younger officers moving up to the leadership chain.

According to Verzosa, he is confident that the new leadership team in the PNP will infuse new blood to invigorate the Integrated Transformation Program (ITP) and accomplish the PNP’s targets under the Performance Governance System.

Verzosa said the latest round of organizational placements in the PNP Command Group, Directorial Staff, National Support Units and Police Regional Offices “signals a new beginning in our organization’s continuing quest toward professionalism and excellence.”

“As younger blood is infused into the system and younger officers move-up the leadership chain, the organization is re-energized and performance levels run high because this is, precisely, the human dynamics in any organization that is founded on competent leadership of an efficient workforce,” Verzosa said.

Part of the latest reassignments in the PNP was the appointment of Deputy Director General Perfecto Palad as Deputy Chief for Administration, the second highest position in the PNP, upon the retirement of Deputy Director General Jefferson Soriano middle of last week.

The movement elevated Deputy Director General Raul Bacalzo to the third highest post as Deputy Chief for Operations, while Director Benjamin Belarmino was designated Chief of Directorial Staff, the fourth highest position in the PNP Command Group.

Palad, Bacalzo and Belarmino are all members of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1977. They are the three top contenders to succeed Verzosa, of PMA Class of 1976, who has announced he will be retiring earlier than his mandatory retirement age of 56 on December 25 this year.

Other PNP officials installed to new positions are Chief Supt. Rolando Anonuevo, who was designated as Director for Integrated Police Operations in Southern Luzon (DIPO-SL); Chief Supt. Lani-O Nerez, Director for Research and Development (DRD); Chief Supt. Nicanor Bartolome, Regional Director, PRO-4A (Calabarzon); Chief Supt. Artemio Hicban, Regional Director, PRO-4B (Mimaropa); Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol, Director, Police Community Relations Group (PCRG); Chief Supt. Mario Avenido, Deputy Director for Police Community Relations (DPCR); Chief Supt. Ager Ontog, Regional Director, Police Regional Office 7 (Central Visayas); Senior Supt. Audie Arroyo, Executive Officer, DIPO-Visayas.

Last week, Verzosa installed seven senior PNP officials to key positions in the PNP. They are Director Raul Castaneda, Director for Intelligence (DI), Director Rey Lanada, Director for Comptrollership (DC); Director Roberto Rosales, Director for Integrated Police Operations in Northern Luzon (DIPO-NL); Chief Supt. Alan Purisima,Regional Director, PRO3 (Central Luzon).

Also reassigned were Chief Supt. Arnold Revilla,Regional Director, PRO8 (Eastern VIsayas); Director Leocadio Santiago, Regional Director, NCRPO, and Chief Supt. Catalino Cuy, Director, Special Action Force (SAF).