CHIEF Supt. Catalino Cuy, National Police Special Action Force (SAF) commander, was promoted on Wednesday to the rank of director.

Fourteen other police officers also earned their star rank.

Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz Jr., PNP spokesman, said the promotion was approved by President Aquino upon the recommendation of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Cuy’s oath of office was administered by Director General Raul Bacalzo, National Police chief, in the force’s general headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, on Wednesday.

The SAF is the National Police’s national maneuver unit and mobile strike force.

During the ceremony, Bacalzo also administered the oaths of Chief Supt. Lester Camba, Jose Jorge Corpuz, Valiant de Guzman, Victor Deona, Jesus Gordon Descanzo, Roman Felix, Vicente Loot, Catalino Rodriguez Jr., Francisco Uyami, Noel Lazarus Vargas, Mario Yanga, Manuel Pinera, Elmer Soria; and Samuel Yordan.

Bacalzo said the promotion is in recognition of the performance, outstanding service and professional competence of the officers.

Cuy, who served as senior aide de camp to then-President Ramos, is a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1981. He took command of the SAF in September last year, after Director Leocadio Santiago was appointed chief of the National Police Directorate for Operations.

He was once the chief of police of Davao City and deputy director for personnel of the National Police.

Corpuz once served as the senior aide de camp of Maj. Gen. Ramon Montaño when he was the chief of Constabulary.

Corpuz is a member of PMA Class 1982. He was once the chief of police of Rodriguez, Rizal.

Felix is not a PMA graduate but came from a family of military and police officers. He was once assigned to the Philippine Public Safety College.