General Jesus Versoza, a Jose Rizal University Law School graduate class of 1996, has been appointed by Her Excellency, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as the next Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief. The formal turnover was held at the PNP Headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, on September 27, 2008, the same day Director General Avelina Razon (who was also once a student in the JRU School of Law) reached mandatory retirement from the service at age 56. Versoza is the 15th Chief of the PNP since its conversion from the Philippine Constabulary-Integrated National Police (PC-INP) under the Armed Forces of the Philippines on January 29, 1991. Prior to his promotion, General Versoza held a three-star rank and was the Deputy PNP Chief for Administration. He also served as head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and directed the PNP Southern Tagalog Command (Region IV). The turnover ceremonies was attended by Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno, Armed Forces’ Chief General Alexander Yano, other officers of the police and military, including police liaisons of various embassies in the country. General Versoza graduated from the Philippine Military Academy in 1976.
Other prominent alumni of JRU that has served top government posts are:
President Ramon Magsaysay BCS '33 (Pres.of the Philippines 1953-57); Justice Jose Ma. Paredes BCS (Associate Justice of the Supreme Court 1960-65);
Armand Fabella MA '53 (Former DepEd Secretary);
Placido Mapa Sr. BCS (Former DAR Secretary in late 40's); Dir. Nestorio Gualberto BCS (Former PNP Chief Supt.); Dir. Avelino Razon 4th year LLB (PNP Chief); Rafael Lazatin BCS (Former Pampanga Governor 1952-59);
Mel Lopez BCS (Former Manila Mayor in late 90's);
Jaime Ferrer BCS (Former COMELEC Chairman);
Benjamin Abalos Sr. HS '52 (Former Mandaluyong Mayor,Chairman-MMDA and COMELEC); Edgardo Del Fonso BCS (Former Finance Undersecretary,President-Private Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp.);
Justice Gregory Ong HS'70 (Chairman-4th Division Sandiganbayan); and
Atty. Nelson Aspe LLB'90 (OIC-Deputy Commisioner,Operations Group-BIR)
Mabuhay ang JRU!!!
