National Police Director Geary Barias for operations now sports three stars.

President Arroyo has approved the promotion of Chief Barias to deputy director general along with Senior Supts. Magtanggol Gatdula and Arnie de los Santos who earned a star to become chief superintendents.

Gatdula heads the Quezon City police while De los Santos is the deputy chief of the Directorate for Human Resource and Doctrine Development.

Barias becomes the third officer in the Crame hierarchy on three-star rank in the company of Deputy Directors Ismael Rafanan for administration, and Jefferson Soriano, chief of directorial staff.

Gatdula and Soriano are classmates of National Police Chief Jesus Verzosa at the Philippine Military Academy Class 1976. Rafanan and Barias belong to Class 1975.

Rafanan and Barias both aspired to become the next National Police chief before former PNP Chief Avelino Razon Jr. retired from the service last Sept. 29.

Barias also served as Metro Manila police chief and head of the Task Force Usig and Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management.

Gatdula?s promotion was delayed because of pending cases before the Office of the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan.

He was charged with wiretapping after his superiors raided his office under the defunct Special Project Alpha then reporting to then National Police chief and now Senator Panfilo Lacson. Romie A. Evangelista