Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr. has designated Police Brigadier General Jose S Hidalgo Jr. as the new regional director of Police Regional Office 3 which covers the provinces in Central Luzon region.
Hidalgo, a member of the PNP Academy Class of 1991, replaced Police Brig. Gen. Cesar Pasiwen who reached the mandatory retirement age of 56.
Azurin personally oversaw the turnover of command ceremony at the PRO3 headquarters at Camp Olivas, City of San Fernando, Pampanga on Feb. 22.
In his speech, Azurin said Central Luzon is in good hands under the leadership of Hidalgo.
He urged all the PNP personnel in Central Luzon to support the new leadership and continue to win the streets through excellent law enforcement and even better police-community relations.
Prior to his appointment to lead the PRO3, Hidalgo served as number two man of the National Capital Region Police Office as deputy regional director for Administration.
He was also previously assigned at PRO3 as the Battalion Commander of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion.
For his part, Hidalgo emphasized intensifying the anti-criminality programs of the region to surpass if not sustain the gains it already had as well as the continued efforts on anti-illegal drugs.