WHILE writing this piece yesterday morning, all is ready for the Change of Command Ceremony and Retirement Honors for PNP chief General Benjie Acorda to be held at the PNP Transformation Oval with President Bongbong Marcos as the inducting officer.

The PNP marching band is ready. The parading elements from different police units and the PNP Academy since last week have been practicing under the scorching heat of the sun., their practice abruptly stopped by a sudden downpour before 10 in the morning. Invitations have also been sent to the media that will be assigned to cover the rites. In short, everything has been prepared except for the official Palace statement on who will succeed Gen. Acorda.

With President Bongbong Marcos back in harness after a bout with flu-like symptoms last week, the turnover of command has been set on Holy Wednesday. As I wrote in a previous column, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the PNP Change of Command ceremony will be held on Holy Wednesday, March 27.

PNP spokesperson Colonel Jean Fajardo last week said that the March 27 date has been set. She also said she has no information if Gen. Acorda will be given another extension by PBBM or will the latter choose a new Chief,PNP from any 3rd-Level Official with the rank of Brigadier General and up.

President Marcos extended Acorda’s term until March 31 this year hours before the latter marked his 56th birthday last December 3. The PNP chief since then has buckled down to heavy work, even inspecting transport terminals last Monday to ensure his men’s readiness to protect the public this Holy Week.

Malacañang’s silence on the matter since last week 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.

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 as his second top cop or the 29th PNP chief since the national police force was created in 1991.

His first PNP chief was Gen. Jun Azurin of PMA ‘Makatao’ Class of 1989.

I have many highly-reliable sources saying that the President can always choose from a number of candidates led by some Ilocano police generals. However, 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 major 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 Jr., 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 my sources said 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, officials said that President Marcos 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.

May the best man really win.