ANOTHER PNP WAITING GAME
WHILE writing this piece, PNP chief General Benjie Acorda remains busy as a bee fulfilling his term as the country’s top cop which was extended until this coming March 31 by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Officials close to the PNP chief said that with 25 days to go before the end of his extended term, Gen. Acorda’s work habit has not changed s bit as it remained the same since the day he was sworn in by PBBM as the country’s 29th PNP chief on April 24 last year.
Malacañang’s silence on the matter has kept the Camp Crame rumor mill busy as ever too with some saying there is the possibility of Gen. Acorda getting another extension while others say another Ilocano police general is set to replace the latter soon.
On Monday, PNP spokesperson Colonel Jean Fajardo maintained that PBBM has the sole authority to choose the chief of the national police force. She also emphasized that as always, the 232,000-strong organization will respect whatever will be the decision of the Commander-in-Chief on the matter.
Colonel Fajardo issued the statement when asked on what will happen this coming March 31, the day Gen. Acorda’s extended term ends. As everybody knows, PBBM extended Gen. Acorda’s term for three months or until March 31, 2024 when the latter marked his 56th birthday last December 3.
“The Chief PNP’s term extension will last until March 31. However, the appointment of the Chief,PNP is the sole prerogative of the President. That’s why we have to wait for the deadline, let’s wait for the official announcement on this matter,” Col. Fajardo emphasized.
A member of Philippine Military Academy ‘Sambisig’ Class of 1991 known as the ‘Gentleman from the North, Gen. Acorda was appointed on April 24 last year by PBBM second top cop or the 29th PNP chief since the national police force was created in 1991.
His first PNP chief was Gen. Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. of PMA ‘Makatao’ Class of 1991.
However, my sources have told me that the candidates to replace Gen. Acorda remains some of the officials I have mentioned already in previous columns. The only name scratched from the list is that of former PNP Deputy Chief for Administration, Lieutenant Gen. Rhodel Sermonia who has retired from the police force last January 24. Sermonia is also a PMA Class 1989 member.
My sources said that PBBM can always choose from a number of candidates led by some Ilocano police generals. I have heard that some of the candidates have already been interviewed by people close to the Commander-in-Chief amid suggestions that the so-called ‘Chief,PNP-tiables’ be subjected to closed-door interviews by PBBM’s top security advisers.
When he installed Gen. Acorda as PNP chief last April 24, the Commander-in-Chief said he chose the latter who was “well-recognized in the police force” and he trusted Acorda to “calm” the police force as it faces several issues, including the alleged cover-up of a major drug bust in Manila last year.
The law says that PBBM can choose a Chief PNP from any official with the rank of Brigadier General up. Former PRRD made this clear when he appointed then Chief Superintendent (Brigadier General) Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa as his 1st PNP chief on July 1, 2016. Now a Senator of the Republic, Gen. dela Rosa commanded the PNP until April 9, 2018.
The situation this time however is different with that in 2016. Thus, if their positions and seniority will be considered, the candidates will include members of Gen. Acorda’s Command Group, all of them his classmates from PMA Class 1991.
They are PNP Deputy Chief for Administration Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Peralta; PNP Deputy Chief for Operations Lt. Gen. Mike Dubria; and PNP The Chief Directorial Staff Lt. Gen. Jon Arnaldo. Another PMA Class 1991 member, PNP Director for Comptrollership Major Gen. Rommel Marbil has also been touted as a contender for the top PNP post.
Then there are the members of PMA “Tanglaw-Diwa” Class of 1992 including National Capital Region Police Office director Major Gen. Tateng Nartatez, PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Director Major Gen. Bong Caramat Jr. and PNP Director for Operations Maj. Gen. Ronald Lee.
Other members of PMA Class 1992 who are possible ‘Chief,PNP-tiables’ are PNP Director for Logistics.Maj. Gen. Mario Reyes, PNP Director for Investigation and Detective Management Maj. Gen. Leo Francisco and Area Police Command-Western Mindanao commander Lt. Gen. Jonnel Estomo.
Another contender is a member of PNP Academy ‘Tagapagpatupad’ Class of 1992, PNP Director for Police-Community Relations.Major Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo. However, many highly-placed sources have told me that Ilocano police generals, those who really know the Ilocano dialect by heart like Generals Acorda and Azurin will always have the edge in the race for the top PNP post.
Since 1991 to date, the PNP already had 29 chiefs, the first being the late Gen. Cesar P. Nazareno and the 29th being Acorda. All the PNP chiefs the country has had since 1991 were all Peemayers too.
Thus, PBMM really has to make another brilliant decision when it comes to again extending the term of Gen. Acorda or appointing his 3rd top cop who really must have the good service reputation, a sterling service record, an untarnished integrity and most important of them all, loyalty to the Constitution and the duly-constituted authorities.
