NEW TOP COP IN REGION 6: Is Pamuspusan the chosen one?

By: Jennifer P. Rendon

Information ran rife that the Philippine National Police (PNP) hierarchy has chosen a new officer to lead the police force of Western Visayas.

But the Police Regional Office (PRO-)6 has yet to confirm if Police Brigadier Gen. Rene Pamuspusan, Headquarters Support Service (HSS) director, will indeed be the successor of Brigadier Gen. John Bulalacao who retires tomorrow, June 27, 2019.

On Tuesday, Bulalacao said there was no word yet on his replacement

“We don’t know yet. Up to now, we have not received the order,” he said in a text message.

Pamuspusan used to be the executive officer of the Directorate for Operations and head of the Oversight Committee on PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force.

Pamuspusan is Bulalacao’s mistah or classmate at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Maringal Class of 1988.

The other candidates for the PRO-6 helm are also his PMA classmates – Brigadier Gen. Ferdinand Divina of the PNP Directorate for Intelligence; and Brigadier Gen. Joselito Esquivel Jr, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director.

Another officer also considered for the post is Brigadier Gen. Filmore Escobal, a member of PMA Class 91, who is now director of the PNP-Police Security and Protection Group (PSPG).

Bulalacao confirmed on Monday that the four officers are being considered to replace him.