The Philippine National Police (PNP) has appointed Police Brigadier General Rommel Batangan as the new acting director of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG), following the sudden resignation of his predecessor over sexual harassment allegations.

The designation of Batangan, who previously served as the Deputy Director for Administration of Police Regional Office Central Luzon (PRO 3), was formalized through an order from PNP Chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. dated March 25.

The official directive was released by the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management on Thursday, March 26.

Resignation Amid Controversy

Batangan takes over the post from Brigadier General Jessie Tamayao, who stepped down on Wednesday. Tamayao’s resignation follows an administrative complaint filed against him before the National Police Commission (Napolcom) on Tuesday by a female subordinate.

In a formal statement, Tamayao categorically denied the accusations, labeling them a "personal vendetta" and maintaining his innocence after 30 years of service.

"My decision to resign is not an admission of guilt, but a demonstration of my commitment to due process and the institutional reputation of the Philippine National Police," Tamayao stated.

Commitment to Investigation

Tamayao noted that he chose to vacate his position voluntarily to ensure a "completely impartial, fair, and transparent" investigation. He emphasized that by stepping down, he intends to remove any perception of influence or conflict of interest while authorities review the merits of the complaint.

The PNP leadership has not yet released a detailed timeline for the internal investigation, but officials stressed that the transition to Batangan’s leadership will ensure that HPG operations remains unhampered during the proceedings.

Batangan is expected to assume his new role at the HPG Headquarters in Camp Crame immediately.