New PNP director in Bicol assumes post
By Connie Calipay
Brig. Gen. Mario Reyes took over the helm as the new director of the Police Regional Office in Bicol (PRO-5) replacing Brig. Gen. Jonnel Estomo in a ceremony held on Tuesday, April 26, at the Philippine National Police (PNP) regional headquarters in Camp Gen. Simeon Ola, Legazpi City.
The ceremony was presided by Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, Philippine National Police (PNP) deputy chief for Administration, who believed that Brig. Gen. (Mario) Reyes, PRO5 is in good hands.
In his message, he reminded the men and women of the PNP of the high expectations of the public.
Sermonia expects the new regional director will support the community relation advocacy programs as a key to diminishing the strength of communist mass organizations.
He expressed hope that Reyes will be able to help realize the mission of ensuring peaceful, credible, and honest elections on May 9.
Reyes, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Tanglaw Diwa” Class of 1992, said that he would adopt the status quo of the current programs, projects, activities, and policies of Estomo, his predecessor and “mistah” or classmate.
He expressed his gratitude to Estomo for the leadership he provided in the region.
"I know for a fact that Jonnel, my “mistah,” did a very great job in his quest to make PRO5, a safe and peaceful region for the Bicolanos, and extraordinary services and projects who made it reach new heights," he said.
He added that he is hopeful that the men and women of PRO5 will extend the same level of support and enthusiasm in his term as the new regional director.
"We will uphold for the sustainability of the various programs and initiatives, which highly contributed to our organizational stability, reformation, and resiliency, we will build on what we have in the present time on the foundations that the past directors have laid," he added.
"We shall also collectively open our minds to other possibilities, in the realm as is dictated by the upholding times, sabi nga nila, let's think outside the box," he said.
“PRO-5 under my watch shall work in unison, striving for new heights, together with my “mistah” here we will achieve new heights,” he said in his message.
The new Bicol police chief was the former director of the Logistics Support Service (LSS).
Estomo, a classmate of Reyes, will assume the post as the deputy director for Logistics Support Service in the national headquarters.
NEW BICOL POLICE CHIEF BGEN Mario Reyes (right) receives the Police Regional Office 5 (PRO-5) flag from Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, Philippine National Police (PNP) deputy chief for Administration, during the assumption of office ceremony on April 26 at Camp Simeon Ola in Legazpi City. Reyes replaced BGen. Jonnel Estomo as the new PRO-5 regional director. Mar S. Arguelles