The Philippine National Police (PNP) high command on Thursday effected a top-level reshuffle of key positions in the 130,000-strong police organization.

PNP spokesman Sr. Supt. Agrimero Cruz Jr. said the reassignments of some top-ranking police officers were sparked by the retirement of PNP Deputy Director General Jefferson Soriano as PNP’s number two man, or deputy chief for administration, and Director Eric Javier, erstwhile Director for Integrated Police Operations-Southern Luzon (DIPO-SL).

Soriano, who formally vows out of police service tomorrow. Friday, was replaced by Deputy Director General Perfecto Palad, the outgoing PNP deputy chief for operations.

Palad will be replaced by his mistah from Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1977, Deputy Director General Raul Bacalzo, erstwhile chief directorial staff (TCDS) of the PNP.

Bacalzo will be succeeded by another member of the PMA Class of 1977, Director Benjamin Belarmino, the current chief of the Directorate for Human Resources and Doctrine Development, which in turn, will be assumed by Chief Supt. Lani-O Nerez.

The three PMA Class 1977 members are said to be the top contenders to succeed incumbent PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa, who has announced he will retire earlier than his mandatory retirement on Dec. 25 this year.

Chief Supt Nicanor Bartolome, who once served as PNP spokesman, was also named as the new director of the CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) Regional Police in a new major reshuffle that was triggered by the retirement of two senior officers. Bartolome, a member of the PMA Class 1980, will formally assume the post on Friday, replacing Chief Supt. Rolando Anonuevo, who was appointed as commander of DIPO Southern Luzon vice Javier.

The post that will be vacated by Bartolome as director of the Police Community Relations Group (PCRG) was given to Chief Supt. Cipriano Querol.

Chief Supt Ager Ontog was named as Nerez’s replacement as director of the Central Visayas Regional Police.