I’M referring to the tough task given by President Duterte to my friend, newly-designated PNP Officer-in-Charge, Lieutenant General Vic Danao to ensure that the May 9national and local elections would end up peaceful, orderly and as honest as possible.

Last Wednesday, I came across a picture showing Lt. Gen. Danao, the erstwhile PNP Deputy Chief for Operations and Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, the PNP Deputy Chief for Administration from PMA ‘Makatao’ Class of 1989 in a huddle during the Comelec Command Conference at Camp Crame.

I sent the picture to the Journal Group with the caption: May the best man win. Hours later, Lt. Gen. Danao of PMA ‘Sambisig’ Class of 1991 was chosen by President Duterte to succeed Gen. Dionards Carlos of PMA ‘Maringal’ Class of 1988 who will retire from the police force today, May 8.

On Friday, Danao, a known ‘action man, a man of few words whose actions speak for himself’ warned politicians who are planning to cheat in the elections they will face the full force of the law. He particularly issued the warning to candidates who will buy votes and those who will sell their votes.

“To those plotting to cheat, just a stern warning: we will use the full force of the law against you, and if you get caught – make no mistake, we have a place for you,” the new top cop said as he assured the citizenry of the PNP’s 100 percent readiness for the polls.

I can say with all candor and sincerity that everybody in Camp Crame finally heaved a sigh of relief with the Malacañang announcement. Indeed, the past weeks prior to the May 8retirement of Gen. Carlos has been very stressful for many specifically those who are rooting for Danao or are siding with Sermonia or are wishing for an extended term for Gen. Carlos.

Prior to the announcement, Lt. Gen. Sermonia who will be retiring from the police force on January 26, 2024 told me he always believe in the thing called ‘Destiny’ and had asked Lt. Gen. Danao only one thing in case the latter gets the presidential nod: Give the PNP-DCA the right power and responsibilities attached to the position.

Lt. Gen. Danao, the erstwhile PNP Deputy Chief for Operations and OIC-The Chief Directorial Staff prior to his designation as PNP-OIC will be making history as he will be commanding the police force in ensuring an honest and orderly May 9 polls.

His appointment is set to trigger another reorganization of the force with Lt. Gen. Sermonia set to stay in his post while another PNP-DCO and PNP-TCDS, both with the rank of Lieutenant Generals will be designated.

However, it would be up for the incoming president to decide come July 1 on the fate of Lt. Gen. Danao who has warmly thanked President Duterte for the trust and confidence on him. Retiring on August 10, 2023, Danao still has nearly 15 months left in the service when a new Commander-in-Chief is sworn into office this coming June 30.

My sources said that Lt. Gen. Danao has always been a top pick of the President to head the PNP although he followed the rule of seniority in deciding who will head the police force since 2016. Last November, he was among the top candidates to replace then PNP chief, now senatorial candidate Gilor Eleazar.

However, I was told that the President had a hard time making his pick to replace Eleazar since the list is long: Sermonia and Major Generals Val de Leon and Bert Ferro of PMA Class 1989, Lt. Gen. Danao and of course, the most senior of them all, Gen. Carlos. In the end, President Duterte made his decision based on seniority and competence and picked Carlos.

The PNP Officers Corps has welcomed the designation of Danao and offered their full support to the latter as he takes charge of the police force during the election period which will end on June 8.

Last Monday, Danao officially took over as the new PNP-DCO, the 3rd highest position in the 225,000-strong police force with the retirement of Lt. Gen. Ferdie Divina, a classmate of Gen. Carlos from PMA Class 1988.

Prior to joining the PNP Command Group last March 1 as the PNP-TCDS which is the 4th highest position in the organization, Lt. Gen. Danao was the director of the National Capital Region Police Office in Metro Manila.

He also used to be a Manila Police District director and later head of the Police Regional Office 4-A in Calabarzon region before he became the Metro Manila police chief on November 10, 2020 or during the time of Gen. Debold M. Sinas as PNP chief.

Lt. Gen. Danao is a known nemesis of criminals and rogues in uniform who became popular for his aggressive measures against erring cops and crackdown on drugs and criminality under his Oplan: LITIS or Litisin and Tiwalag at Iskalawag na Miyembro ng Kapulisan program during his stint in the Calabarzon and Metro Manila police forces.

He has emphasized time and again that discipline in the police force is ‘non-negotiable’ as he warned that there will be no room for any misfits and scalawags under his command.

The official has warned rogue and defiant members of the Metro Manila police force to either mend their ways or suffer the consequences of their misdeeds.

He also warned his commanders to ‘shape up or ship out’ as he conducts his surprise inspection of NCRPO stations, Police-Community Precincts and checkpoints to ensure that his men are performing their actual duties.

As PNP-OIC, he is asking his men to toe the line under his leadership. “Nakikiusap ako sa inyo, let us put a stop especially to anti-illegal drugs. Kung mayroon mang paisa-isa pa sa inyo na medyo nawawalay ng landas, ngayon pa lang sinasabihan ko na kayo, the door is always open for you to leave,” he has repeatedly told his men when he was still at the NCRPO.

He likewise advised the police force to always remember President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs as well as their all-out efforts against criminality and corruption. With a new captain of a ship called ‘PNP,’ officers and men of the organization have expressed confidence that Lt. Gen. Danao will be able to manage the organization given his track record and level of competence.

“This is crucial time especially that we are ushering to a very important democratic exercise in the country. Ano man pong nasimulan ni PNP Chief General Dionardo Carlos ay ipagpapatuloy ni Gen. Danao. He will take over as the officer-in-charge of the PNP following the retirement from service of Gen. Carlos,” said PNP Public Information Office chief, Brigadier Gen. Roderick Alba.

Alba said that Gen. Danao will perform this new task in an OIC capacity in the meantime because of the prohibition in the movement of government positions while the election period is in effect.

My ‘kumpare,’ Gen. Carlos has urged the police force to rally behind the leadership of Danao. “Upon my retirement, I shall pass on the baton of leadership of the Philippine National Police to Police Lieutenant General Vicente D. Danao Jr., a fine officer whom I look up with great respect and admiration,” the 4-star general said.

“My retirement will not in any way hamper the current preoccupation of the PNP to guarantee secure, accurate, free and fair elections on May 9th. The dynamics of the police service ensures seamless continuity of command to carry on with unfinished tasks and oingoing programs,” Gen. Carlos said. Happy birthday Chief. Thank you for your service too.