Bermudo, who graduated from the College of Agriculture of the Central Mindanao University in Maramag, Bukidnon, assumed the post from Senior Supt. Leonardo Esclamado who took over the post from Senior Supt. Noel Armilla in January 2009.
Bermudo assumed the post amid the celebration of the Kaamulan Festival 2009, which has been marred by a series of stabbing incidents allegedly blamed on gangster wars.
Bermudo has confirmed 10 stabbing incidents and the death of one of the victims in the Kaamulan Capitol Grounds between the soft opening on February 18 and March 3.
Fifteen persons yielded with bladed weapons in frisking operations conducted by the police on March 2 and 3 at the bars constructed on the Capitol Grounds. He said most of the suspects were detained and are awaiting charges. Some of them, however, were minors, he said.
Bermudo vowed to intensify police visibility and action, saying a hundred police personnel from the regional office in Cagayan de Oro will arrive on March 6, a day before the festival highlight, the ethnic street dancing.
Bermudo, during a courtesy call at the provincial board on March 4, said he is thankful he has been assigned in Bukidnon since he is really from Region 10 and has studied in Bukidnon.
Bermudo is a native of Catarman, Camiguin and is now residing in Gingoog City. He finished his training at the Philippine National Police Academy in 1984 and earned an agriculture degree at CMU in 1981.
He has been assigned as police chief in various towns in Misamis Oriental and other police functions, including heading the Regional Training Unit in Damilag, Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon.
Bermudo also served as deputy chief for personnel at Camp Alagar in Cagayan de Oro.
He joined the United Nations Peacekeeping mission to Eastern Europe in 2002 and 2003 and was sent to Serbia and Kosovo in the former Yugoslavia.
He also served as regional director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Region 9 and 10 before earning the rank of police superintendent.
Board members welcomed Bermudo’s assignment with Beltran challenging him to deliver amid the challenges in the peace and order situation in the province.
Board member Camilo Pepito raised a question about why the PNP has assigned only OICs as provincial directors in the province. But Vice Gov. Alex Calingasan said Bermudo is not the right person to answer the question. (Walter I. Balane / MindaNews)