NEARLY two months before the 56th birthday this coming April 24 of PNP chief, General Jun Azurin, there are already two main speculations among many police insiders: First speculation is that the 28th Chief,PNP’s term may be extended since he needs to finish his tough task of overseeing the 5-Man Committee formed to assess the 3rd-Level Officers who filed their courtesy resignations before PBBM last January and go after those with drug links.

The second speculation is that the PNP chief from PMA ‘Makatao’ Class of 1989 is all ready to bow out of the force after a sterling career in the military and police service and give his seat to his most worthy successor who must have the full trust and confidence of PBBM and his closest security advisers.

Of course, one major factor is how officials traces their roots and what did they do during the last May election. Consider this: there are some active and retired military, police and other law enforcement and public officials who were known to have actively or silently campaigned, displayed the banners and tarpaulins in their homes and even signed manifesto of support for other candidates.

However, after their bets lost, these personalities are now trying their best to be appointed to government positions, or worst, now in key government posts. No delicadeza really on their part or were they sick and absent when the word ‘loyalty’ was taught in their classrooms during their younger days.

On Thursday, the Journal Group scooped the story on a major PNP revamp which saw NCRPO chief, Major Gen. Jonnel Estomo of PMA ‘Tanglaw-Diwa’ Class of 1992 being named as the new PNP Deputy Chief for Operations or the PNP’s 3rd highest-ranked official. He replaced Lieutenant Gen. Benjie Santos of PMA ‘Sambisig’ Class of 1991 who was transferred to the Office of the Chief,PNP before his October 9 retirement this year.

Retiring on November 25, 2024, Maj. Gen. Estomo’s new position actually catapulted him as one of the main contenders to replace Gen. Azurin. Consider this: Estomo will automatically be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General with his new position and will have 21 more months in active police service.

If seniority and position would be the parameters to be used in choosing the next Chief,PNP, the 3-Star Generals would be the top contenders. They include PNP Deputy Chief for Administration, Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia of PMA Class 1989 who will be retiring on January 26 next year; soon-to-be Lt. Gen. Estomo, and PNP The Chief of Directorial Staff, Lt. Gen. Mike Dubria of PMA Class 1991 who will retire from the force on December 20, 2024.

The other 3-Star Generals, in my mind can also be included in the list although their age are fast catching up with them: Lt. Gen. Filomore Escobal (PMA Class 1991) of Area Police Command-Eastern Mindanao will retire this coming November 5; Lt. Gen. Pipoy Natividad (PMA Class 1990) of APC-Northern Luzon will retire this coming August 23;

Lt. Gen. Rod Armamento (PNPA Class 1990) of APC-Southern Luzon will retire on June 30 next year; Lt. Gen. Patrick Villacorte (PMA Class 1991) of APC-Visayas will retire this coming November 28; and Lt. Gen. Vic Danao (PMA Class 1991) of APC-Southern Mindanao will retire this coming August 10.

Then there are the 2-Star Generals who are currently heading different PNP Directorial Staff positions in the force including PNP Director for Intelligence, Major Gen. Benjie Acorda (PMA Class 1991) who will retire this coming December 3 and the other members of PMA Classes 1991 and 1992 who still have a year or more left in the service.

Section 25 of Republic Act 975 or the DILG Act of 1990 says that “the PNP shall be headed by a Chief who shall be assisted by two (2) deputy chief, one (1) for operations and one (1) for administration, both of whom shall be appointed by the President upon recommendation of the National Police Commission from among the most senior and qualified officers in the service.

The same law says “that in no case shall any officer who has retired or is retirable within six (6) months from his compulsory retirement age be appointed as Chief of the PNP although the Commander-in-Chief always has the right, the prerogative to choose his own top cop.

RA 6975 also says that the “term of office of PNP Chief cannot exceed four years. An exception can be made by the President to extend the PNP chief’s term “in times of war or other national emergency declared by Congress.”

RA 8551 or the PNP Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998 stated that “Except for the Chief, PNP, no PNP member who has less than one (1) year of service before reaching the compulsory retirement age shall be promoted to a higher rank or appointed to any other position.”

However, the presidential prerogative in choosing his/her PNP chief has been proven time and time again with the appointment of PNP Chiefs Pikoy Cascolan, Debold Sinas, Gilor Eleazar and Dionards Carlos during the previous Duterte administration. General Cascolan became a PNP chief for only 2-months while Generals Sinas, Eleazar and Carlos each led the PNP for six months only. It really lies on the hands of the President and nobody could question that presidential prerogative.

On a personal note, I would like to congratulate Maj. Gen. Estomo and my other friends who were appointed to key PNP positions this week.

Apart from Estomo, the others are new Metro Manila police chief, Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo of PNPA Class 1992; new PNP-Special Action Force director, Brigadier Gen. Rod Dimas; and new Police Regional Office 5 director in Bicol region, Brig. Gen. Patrick Obinque.

Okubo was replaced as PNP-SAF commander by his classmate from PNPA Class 1992, Brig. Gen. Dimas, a former PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group director who showed his leadership skills in Bicol region. Brig. Gen. Dimas will get his 2nd-star as PNP-SAF director.

On the other hand, Obinque, a classmate from PMA Class 1992 of Estomo is the new PRO5 director. It will be the 2nd RD stint for Obinque who also became a PRO1 director in Ilocos-Pangasinan region in March 2022 before being replaced by Gen. Azurin in August last year and transferred as PNP Deputy Director for Comptrollership.