Alfred Dalizon

Extending PNP chief’s term not really new

January 18, 2025 Alfred P. Dalizon 113 views

I’M referring to hints made by DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla that the term of PNP chief General Rommel Marbil may be extended by President Bongbong Marcos for another four months.

Last Thursday, the DILG’s top official did not mince words in saying that Gen. Marbil may get an extended term saying there are ‘strong indications’ that the PNP chief’s term would be extended although there was no official word from the Palace regarding it.

“From all indications ma-extend siya but there is no official word yet from the President,” said Sec. Remulla who admitted that the upcoming mid-term election could play a key factor in extending Gen. Marbil’s term.

“That’s the biggest reason I think it’s the midterm elections dahil you cannot shake things up now, mag-uumpisa na yung campaign period din. Indications that he will stay to take command of the PNP until after the elections,” he said.

Extending the term of a retiring PNP chief is not new in our country I would say after covering the national police force since its establishment in 1991. I still remember that in February 2002, then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo extended the term of then PNP chief Gen. Larry Mendoza for nine more months.

PGMA even told Camp Crame newsmen when she graced the PNP’s 11th Service Anniversary that the extension of Gen. Mendoza’s tenure will not jeopardize the career of any police official. The now late Gen. Mendoza of PMA Class 1969 was supposed to retire at the age of 56 on March 17 that year when his term was extended with PGMA even citing the latter and the PNP’s high approval rating that time.

Then Executive Secretary Bert Romulo said that PGMA really has the legal prerogative to defer Mendoza’s retirement. “That is within the powers of the President.If the President feels that General Mendoza is doing a good job and that he is still needed, I think that is the prerogative and responsibility that the Constitution and the law gives to the President,” then ES Romulo said.

PGMA did it again in August 2004 when she extended the term of then newly-sworn in Chief,PNP Edgar Aglipay for six months. A member of PMA Class 1971, Aglipay was supposed to serve only for three weeks or until September 23, 2004 when he turns 56 years old, the mandatory police retirement age.

However, PGMA that year adopted anew her ‘revolving door’ policy in extending Aglipay’s tour of duty saying it will enable him to get their plans off the ground, institutionalize their gains in in law enforcement and have a strong start on things that have to be done to truly professionalize the police force. Only the men and women of the police force and seasoned journalists can tell if Aglipay was a failure or a success that time.

Then it was the turn of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte to extend the term of his ‘favorite chief,’ now Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ dela Rosa in 2018. The member of PMA Class 1986 was supposed to retire on January 21, 2018 but got a 3-months extension to lead their ‘war on drugs’ or until April 21, 2018, courtesy of FPRRD.

‘It’s destiny. Being police chief ‘cannot be achieved through personal ambition. It is the Lord who sets one’s destiny, not people,” the former top cop-turned senator after getting his extended term due to the full trust and confidence of FPRRD.

On December 3, 2023, it was the turn of PBBM to extend the service of his 2nd PNP chief, Gen. Benjie Acorda until March 31, 2024. In extending Acorda’s service, the Office of the President cited Executive Order No. 136, series of 1999, which recognized the power of the President to approve the extension of service of presidential appointees beyond the compulsory retirement age for exemplary meritorious reasons. \

This week, the cat was finally let out of the bag as Sec. Remulla—the other half of the powerful Remullas in the Marcos administration, the first being his elder brother Justice Secretary Boying Remulla—said it looks like that Gen. Marbil may get an extended term to lead the national police force in ensuring peace and order during the May 12 mid-term polls.

If that happens, Gen. Marbil who has become known for his many reform programs and care for members of the police force and his mistah from PMA Class 1991, Gen. Acorda will make history as the 1st two members of the same PMA Class whose term were extended by the Commander-in-Chief.

Twenty days before he marks his 56th birthday, there are still no fresh rumors on who will succeed Gen. Marbil nor there are any Camp Crame preparations for the turnover of command ceremonies that will be attended by PBBM.

During the time of Gen. Acorda, there were also no words on his would-be successor a day or two before his actual retirement day. He even flew to a Catholic church in Marawi City which was hit by a deadly bombing on his birthday. Hours later, word was out that his term is being extended by the President.

PBBM, being the Commander-in-Chief, has the prerogative to choose a PNP chief from any official with the rank of Police Brigadier General up. The appointed Chief,PNP invariably gets a 4-star rank or the rank of Police General and become an ex-officio member of the National Police Commission.

The law says that the President shall appoint the PNP chief from among a list prepared by the Napolcom of “the most senior and qualified officers in the service” given that the prospect appointee has not yet retired or within six months from their compulsory retirement age.’ However, he has also the power to extend the term of a retiring PNP chief and no one can contest it.

Republic Act 6975 which created the PNP says the term of office of PNP Chief cannot exceed four years. However, 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.”

However, as I have been pointing out in the past, the PNP chief must enjoy the President’s full trust and confidence. I would like to say that the current PNP chief is really playing a major role in all nation-building efforts of the PBBM administration since he is not only leading the organization’s continuing war on drugs, criminality, terror and corruption but at the same time leads the police force on a time that the entire country is facing major challenges brought about by issues like the West Philippine Sea and the Israeli-Hamas war.

I would also like to believe that next to the President, the Chief, PNP is considered to be the 2nd most powerful official in the country, having in his command the 232,000-strong police force which has presence in virtually all part of the country or from Aparri to Jolo.

Thus, the PNP chief must possess the competency and integrity to handle the job as he will be answerable to the PNP’s internal and external audience. He should have the dogged determination to do the job, the needed track record and service reputation, a ton of contribution to the country’s peace and order campaign, and most importantly, the loyalty to the Constitution and duly-constituted authorities.

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