TURNOVER.Outgoing police director Col. Jean Fajardo hands over standard of the Pampanga provincial police office to PRO-3 chief Brig. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia as incoming provincial director Col. Andres Simbajon Jr. waits to receive it at Wednesday’s turnover. Contributed photo
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Vowing to continue the best practices of his predecessor under the PNP Patrol Plan 2030, Col. Andres Simbajon Jr. took over the reins of the Pampanga provincial police office from Col. Jean Fajardo in simple rites Wednesday.
Known as a protegee of PNP chief Gen. Camilo Pancratius “Pikoy” Pascua Cascolan, Simbajon is formerly the chief of the PNP Plans and Programs. He is said to have been personally handpicked by Cascolan for this Pampanga posting.
Fajardo has been designated as the chief of the unit, PNP Training Program Development Division stationed in Camp Crame, Quezon City. Her new assignment was approved by the Major Gen. Amador Corpus, head of the directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development.
Of her new post, Fajardo was quoted to have said: “A change in environment is a booster to my career“ as the post is in higher police headquarters.
Simbajon and Fajardo are both members of the Philippine National Police Academy class of 1996.
In Camp Olivas, Police Regional Office 3 chief Brig. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia is reported to be set to relinquish his post “anytime next week.” He is said to be reassigned to the PNP Directorate for Community Relations, also at the national headquarters.
AC cops awarded
Meanwhile, four police officers detailed at the Angeles City Police Office were given recognition by the PNP for their dedication to service during the traditional Monday flag raising rites at Camp Crame.
Feted were Lt. Romulus B. Ramos, Staff Sergeant Argel R. Cabote, Corporal Eric S. Sapnu and Patrol woman Irish G. Petiza, all assigned at the Police Station 3 of the ACPO.
The four received their awards from the PNP chief himself for their video on the arrest of a Filipina and her Chinese companion going viral on social media.
The video showed how the four policemen stood their ground and prevented the entry to Angeles City of one L.A Abegail Jabel and her Chinese companion Ching Li from the National Capital Region after they failed to show travel authority and quarantine certificate as required by the pandemic task force on Sept 25.
The suspects were on board a vehicle attempted to bribe the police officers that resulted to their arrest.
“The policemen’s actuations only prove their sincerity to their sworn duty. This also highlights the credibility and reputation of the organization as a whole,” said Col. Joyce Patrick Sangalang, director of the ACPO.
Sangalang said the suspects, who claimed they were transferring residence to Angeles City from NCR, were flagged down by the policemen and asked of documents required by the health protocols set by the Inter–Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease.
“Requirements set for travelers especially from a place under the general community quarantine must secure travel authority, quarantine and medical certificate from the place of origin,” Sangalang said, adding that the suspects failed to show any of the requirements and instead offer P2,000 to let them enter the city.
The event, Sangalang said was recorded by one of the policemen and uploaded it on social media. He said it was PNP deputy director for administration Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar that saw the video that went viral on Facebook.
Eleazar promptly called the attention of the four policemen and told them to report to Camp Crame to receive the award.
