By Joyce Pa?ares, and Joel M. Sy Egco

PRESIDENT Arroyo has begun another round of reshuffle and appointments in her official family, this time focusing on three retired police generals transferring to key posts within the Transportation Department.

The President replaced retired police Gen. Roberto Lastimoso as general manager of the Metro Rail Transit Authority with Transportation assistant secretary for communications and special concerns Reynaldo Berroya, another retired police general.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said retired police Gen. Thompson Lantion, who heads the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, has been promoted to Transportation undersecretary.

Berroya, Lantion, and even Lastimoso are classmates of Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza, all belonging to the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1969.

Mendoza and Lastimoso are both former chiefs of the National Police.

Lantion will be replaced by Land Transportation Office chief Alberto Suansing, who, in turn, will be replaced by National Counter Terrorism Action Group head Arturo Lomibao, also a former National Police chief.

In separate interviews with Standard Today, Suansing and Lantion both expressed dismay over their sudden transfer. But they said they would obey the transfer order if the decision was made by President Arroyo.

?I was not informed about it. I learned it only from you. If that were true and the President wanted it, then I will follow,? Suansing said.

Lantion made the same remark, adding that he would immediately proceed to the office of Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza to verify the reports.

?I was not told about it. I will ask Secretary Mendoza,? Lantion said.