A number of Philippine National Police (PNP) generals who are either from Ilocos region or have served in the Ilocos-Pangasinan regions appear to have the advantage in the race to become the 30th PNP chief vice General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr., the Journal Group learned.

These officials were among those previously identified by the Journal Group in a recent article about the ‘Chief, PNP-tiables.’

At least 11 senior officials are candidates to replace Acorda, who will retire on Dec. 3, 2023 unless extended by President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr.

Since assuming the presidency in June 2022, the President has named two Ilocano police generals as his 1st and 2nd PNP chiefs.

The 1st was Gen. Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr., a member of Philippine Military Academy ‘Makatao’ Class of 1989.

When Gen. Azurin reached his 56th birthday on April 24, 2023, President Marcos Jr. designated Gen. Acorda as his 2nd PNP chief.

Journal Group sources said that unless the Commander-in-Chief extends the term of Acorda, a 30th PNP chief will be named very soon.

As the law says, extending the term of a sitting PNP chief or appointing another one from any of the one-star up to three-star police generals will always be a prerogative of the Chief Executive as the Commander-in-Chief.

The list of possible next PNP chief include PNP Deputy Chief for Administration Lieutenant Gen. Rhodel O. Sermonia, PNP Deputy Chief for Operations Lt. Gen. Michael John F. Dubria; and PNP The Chief Directorial Staff, Major Gen. Emmanuel B. Peralta.

Sermonia is the last member of PMA Class 1989 in the PNP but will be retiring on January 26, 2024.

Dubria will retire on December 20, 2024 while Peralta will retire on August 24, 2024.

PNP Director for Comptrollership Brigadier Gen. Rommel Francisco D. Marbil is also being mentioned as another candidate to succeed Acorda.

Born on February 7, 1969, the 54-year old Marbil used to be the head of the PNP Highway Patrol Group. He rose to become a Police Regional Office 8 director in Eastern Visayas.

There are also members of PMA ‘Tanglaw-Diwa’ Class of 1992 whose names are being mentioned as among the contenders to replace Acorda.

They are National Capital Region Police Office director Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director Major Gen. Romeo M. Caramat Jr., PNP Director for Human Resource and Doctrine Development Brig. Gen. Ronald O. Lee, PNP Director for Logistics Maj. Gen. Mario A. Reyes, PNP Director for Logistics Brig. Gen. Leo M. Francisco and Area Police Command-Western Mindanao commander Maj. Gen. Jonnel C. Estomo.

Journal Group sources have also mentioned the name of PNP Director for Police-Community Relations Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan O. Okubo as another ‘Chief, PNP-tiable.’

However, officials said that having named two Ilocano police generals as his 1st two PNP chiefs it would not be a big surprise if President Marcos Jr. will pick another Ilocano as next PNP chief.

With that in mind, sources said the leading candidates may be Maj. Gen. Peralta, who was once a Police Regional Office 1 director in Ilocos-Pangasinan region; Maj. Gen. Caramat, a native of Pangasinan who used to be assigned in Ilocos-Pangasinan and Cordillera police regional offices; Maj. Gen. Nartatez, a native of Santa, Ilocos Sur who was once an Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office director; and Brig. Gen. Lee from La Union.

Sources said that President Marcos really has to make a brilliant decision when it comes to choosing the next Chief PNP.

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

Then there is also the pending PNP Reorganization Act and the Military and other Uniformed Personnel or MUP Law which extends the mandatory retirement age of uniformed police personnel at 57 years.

Sources said that looking at the Congress timeline, the MUP Pension Reform Law may be approved before the 1st quarter of 2024. That timeline will have a major impact on the career of officials including Lt. Generals Sermonia, Dubria and Maj. Gen. Peralta who have less than six-months or a year in the service as the ‘6-months or 1-year remaining active service’ of the police are reportedly being considered in the extension plan.

Nartatez will retire on March 2027, Caramat on September 2024, Lee on May 2025, Reyes on December 2024; and Francisco on October 2025. Okubo will retire on May 2026 while Marbil will retire on February 2025.

Once the MUP Bill is signed into law next year, Nartatez and company are expected to get another year in the police service.

(next: The Race for the Next PNP Chief: Who is Maj. Gen. Emmanuel B. Peralta?)

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon