The dismantling of the Area Police Command (APC) is set to affect 26 generals and 178 second-level officers in the Philippine National Police (PNP).
PRO-3 Regional Director and Concurrent Spokesperson PBGen. Jean Fajardo stated that this is in accordance with a resolution issued by the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM).
She further emphasized that the resolution is supported by the police force, particularly with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leading the push for the government's right-sizing initiative.
Under the orders of PNP Chief PGen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, Fajardo stated that the dismantling of the APCs will be gradual to allow the affected generals to be reassigned to positions vacated by senior officers retiring this year.
“Definitely for those Generals who will be affected of the deactivation po ng APCs po, kasama po sila dito sa mga projected po na magffill-up naman po ng mga vacancy as a result po ng mga naapektuhan po ng deactivation po ng mga APC," Fajardo said in a press briefing on Monday.
The implementation of the dismantling of the APCs was initially targeted for January due to alleged repeated duplication of their functions and to help the PNP save on costs.
Moreover, the Area Police Commands are spread across Northern Luzon, Southern Luzon, Visayas, Western Command, and Eastern Mindanao.
If the APCs are entirely abolished, plans are underway to transfer some affected police officers to the newly established Negros Island Region Police Office, anticipated to begin operations in 2025.
