Pampanga police director reassigned to HQ post

JUST two months after assuming the post of Pampanga provincial director on September 30, Colonel Andres Simbajon Jr. was reassigned by higher ups at the Philippine National Police (PNP) to the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations-Western Mindanao based at the headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Simbajon replaced former director Police Colonel Jean Fajardo, who was reassigned as chief of the Philippine National Training Program Development Division in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

His reassignment took effect after the PNP Headquarters' directive on December 2, 2020.

"It was a decision of higher ups at headquarters," Simbajon said.

During his short stint as Pampanga's top cop, he led provincial police units in successful anti-criminality campaigns where high-value targets were arrested and millions of pesos worth of illegal drugs were hauled in several operations.

His hard stance against crimes and illegal drugs, and focus on keeping peace and order across towns and cities in Pampanga earned him the respect of local police, branding him as "tough top cop."

Colonel Arnold Thomas Ibay, outgoing Albay Provincial Police director and former National Capital Region Police Office criminal investigation and detection group head, will reportedly replace Simbajon as PPPO chief. (JTD)