PRO 12 Director Mantele retires; Monteagudo assumes office

By Danilo E. Doguiles

Thursday 17th of May 2012

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, May 17 (PIA) -- After 30 years in government service, P/Chief Superintendent Benjardi Mantele retires from office today.

Mantele also turns over command of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 12 to P/CSupt Alex Paul Monteagudo in a ceremony at the PNP headquarters in Barangay Tambler, General Santos City at 9:00 a.m.

In an earlier interview with local media, Mantele said his final speech as PNP-Soccsksargen’s chief would deal on his report on the accomplishments during his more than one year stint at PRO 12. Mantele assumed office as director of PRO 12 in April 2011.

“I pray that the agencies, as well as the community, will continue cooperating with the police and with the new leadership so that our police could deliver on their duties and responsibilities and give the public better service.”

He also assured incoming PRO 12 Director Monteagudo that the police force he would be leaving under his command are well-prepared.

Meanwhile, P/SSupt. Randolf Delfin, director of South Cotabato Police Provincial Office commended Mantele for the service he extended to the province.

“In behalf of the SCPPO, I thank Chief Superintendent Benjardi Mantele,” he said, He described the outgoing police director as “a very kind person.”

He also vowed full support to the new police director, especially in the strengthening of security in their area of responsibility.

“Whatever he wants us to do for the improvement of PRO 12 and the province of South Cotabato, we will do the best we can,” Delfin said.

Incoming PRO 12 Director Monteagudo is deputy director of the PNP’s Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM).

In 1999, while still serving as police director of PNP- North Cotabato, Monteagudo received Dangal ng Bayan award for his exemplary accomplishments as a public servant.

P/SSupt Cornelio Salinas, present provincial director of North Cotabato PPO, said, “The Cotabato police provincial office is very proud that an officer who had served in North Cotabato has finally been appointed as police regional director in Region 12.”

He said, the personnel who worked under the leadership of Monteagudo as provincial police chief, described the new PNP 12 director as, “ a really hardworking officer, very dedicated, very sincere, and committed.” (DED-PIA 12)