The list of the possible chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) has been trimmed down to those who would be retiring after the 2016 presidential elections.
A number of senior police officials have already been interviewed for the top police post to replace PNP Officer-In-Charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina who is set to retire July 18, Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas said.
“The President has already talked with some of the officials and maybe there will be a formal announcement in the coming days,” said Roxas in an interview, but declined to say if that will come before or after the mandatory retirement of Espina on July 18.
RETIREMENT AFTER ELECTIONS
Roxas disclosed that the President’s top choices are officers whose retirement will be after the presidential elections in 2016.
“One of the most important duties of the next PNP chief is to ensure honest, orderly, peaceful and credible elections. The President does not want a scenario of two appointments before the 2016 elections,” said Roxas.
“So tinitingnan ngayon ang mga opsiyal na ang kanilang retirement ay lagpas na sa June 30 para talagang kung sino man ang maghahanda, kung sino man ang gagawa ng plano, siya din ang magpapatupad,” said Roxas.
GARBO
That requirement will exclude from the list Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo, the current deputy chief for Operations of the PNP. He is among the top contenders for the top PNP post, with the reported support of an administration senator and a Cabinet secretary.
Garbo, who is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1981, is set to retire in March, 2016, or two months short of the presidential elections. Garbo is in the same Class 1981 as Espina and resigned PNP Chief Alan Purisima.
PETRASANTA
Chief Supt. Raul Petrasanta, the erstwhile director of the Central Luzon regional police, has long been presumed as the successor of Purisima because of his connection to the Presidential Security Group under President Cory Aquino.
But the expected smooth appointment has been complicated by Petrasanta’s six-month suspension over the case involving hundreds of Ak-47 rifles which ended up in the hands of the Communist rebels in Mindanao.
Sources said Petrasanta’s suspension has emboldened members of PMA Classes 1982 and 1983 to voice their opposition to the expected appointment.
Like Purisima, Petrasanta is reportedly a friend of President Aquino. He is a member of PMA Class 1984.
MAGALONG
Another expected contender for the PNP post is Director Benjamin Magalong, head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). But that was until the release of findings of the Board of Inquiry, which investigated the Mamasapano clash. Magalong was appointed by Roxas to lead the BOI which cited the possible lapses of President Aquino during the planning stage of Oplan Exodus.
Three of the 22 conclusions of the BOI cited the President’s role—from the time he “gave the go-signal and allowed the execution of Oplan Exodus” to his decision “allowing suspended PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima… despite the suspension order of the Ombudsman”.
The President earlier could not help but express his dismay over the result of the BOI probe, saying he was not even invited to a hearing. Earlier, Magalong said they repeatedly invited the President but did not receive any response. Roxas later admitted the lapses in failing to relay the message of Magalong to the President.
Magalong is set to retire in December next year, which makes him qualify for the President’s wish to have a PNP chief that would serve beyond the 2016 elections.
Magalong, a member of PMA Class 1982, is one of the well respected officers in the PNP for his reforms and technology-based leadership approaches which have already been institutionalized in the Cordillera Administrative Region regional police and the CIDG. In fact, the training module of the CIDG is being used as the main basis for retraining programs for the entire PNP.
MARQUEZ AND VAÑO
Another top contender is Director Ricardo Marquez, also of PMA Class 1982, who is currently the head of the Directorate for Operations. He is set to retire in August next year.
The other name in the list of possible chief is Director Juanito Vaño, a member of PMA Class 1983 who was recently tagged as very close to Purisima.
PRESIDENT STILL UNDECIDED
Meanwhile in Malacañang, Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the President has not yet decided on who will be the next PNP chief. “The process is ongoing,” Lacierda said.
“The President will decide based on the qualifications, track record and merits of the candidate and the assessment of the President,” Lacierda said.
Earlier, the Palace said President Aquino is aware that there is a sense of urgency in selecting a new PNP chief with the upcoming retirement of Espina next month.
President Aquino himself had said he is being cautious in choosing the next PNP chief, knowing that they are subject to various criticisms by detractors.
He also said the role of the next PNP chief would be significant especially with the upcoming 2016 presidential elections.
SUSPENDED AND RESIGNED
PNP Director General Alan Purisima resigned from his post as PNP chief in February, 2015 after drawing flak over his involvement on the Mamasapano incident despite his suspension.
Prior to that, the Office of the Ombudsman ordered the six-month preventive suspension of Purisima on December 4, 2014 for the alleged anomalous contract with courier service Werfast Documentation Agency in 2011.
Purisima had retired from his post in the PNP but did not resign from the uniformed service. Purisima will retire in November.
NO REINSTATEMENT
Meanwhile, the Palace ruled out the possibility of Purisima’s reinstatement as PNP chief following the lifting of his six-month suspension. (With a report from Madel Sabater-Namit)
MANILA BULLETIN
