CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga – Four Kapampangans made it to two-star ranks (Director or equivalent to Major General in the Armed Forces) in the Philippine National Police (PNP) and are holding key positions in the organization.
These are Director Oscar David Albayalde, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), Director Rene Ong, head of the Human Resource Research Division, Director Keith Ernald Singian, head of the Human Resource Doctrine Division and Director Noel Lazarus Vargas, of the Directorate for Logistics (DL).
Both Albayalde and Singian are born and raised in the City of San Fernando and they formerly headed the Pampanga Provincial Police Office (PPO) while Ong belongs to a family of military and police officers in Mabalacat City while Vargas is native of Apalit, Pampanga.
Ong was born in the northern part of Pampanga while Vargas came from the southern tip of the province.
Vargas, who was given a retirement honor in this regional police headquarters on Tuesday, will officially step down from the PNP service onDecember 17, the day where he will reach his 56 year old mandatory retirement age.
Vargas will return to his family “as a full-time husband”. He planned to venture on farming business in the civilian life.
The former DL chief received a replica check carrying the amount of P4.27 million and an automated teller machine issued by Land Bank during the official retirement of his PNP Badge.
Albayalde is a recipient of the prestigious Most Outstanding Kapampangan Award (MOKA), the only director in the PNP recognized by the provincial government for its contribution to the province in fields of Law Enforcement.
Ong, who will retire on March 2017, and Singian belong to the Philippine Military Academy class ’83.
The retirement honor was presided by PNP Deputy Director General for Administration Ramon Apolinario during simple rites held in this police camp.
Some classmates of Vargas in the PMA led by retired Director Abner DImabuyo and other junior offcicers graced the occasion.
Chief Supt. Aaron N. Aquino, Central Luzon police director, who hosted the retirement rites, said retiring police general has the option to hold his retirement in a place where he came from, a customary tradition in the PNP.