NO new or major movements of key Philippine National Police (PNP) posts were announced on Tuesday as new PNP Chief General Benjamin C. Acorda emphasized that placement and promotion in the force will be based on “merit, ability and moral ascendancy.”

“I made it part of my announcement. Everything will be done based on policies and guidelines, merit, ability, and morale ascendancy.

Everything will be based on the set of qualifications to be set by the Senior Officers Placement and Promotion Board (SOPPB). I will make sure that the SOPPB will be empowered, that the candidates will be scrutinized,” the new top cop said in his first press conference at Camp Crame.

During his presscon, the member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Sambisig” Class of 1991 was flanked by PNP Deputy Chief for Administration, Lieutenant Gen. Rhodel O. Sermonia and PNP Director for Police-Community Relations, Major Gen. Mario A. Reyes.

PNP Deputy Chief for Operations Major Gen. Jonnel C. Estomo and PNP The Chief of Directorial Staff, Lt. Gen. Michel John F. Dubria were unable to join Acorda in his first press conference due to “other official commitments.”

PNP spokesperson Colonel Jean Fajardo said, “(Our) Command Groups remains the same as (we) speak.”

On Monday, Acorda said that under him, the PNP’s “reward and punishment” program will be quick and decisive. “It shall be fair and impartial, and due process shall be observed. We will establish unity, patriotism, uplift morale, strengthen cooperation and instill discipline in the organization,” he said.

Acorda likewise bared that he will give “full premium” to the morale and welfare of the men and women in the organization where “assignments and positioning based on merit, ability and moral ascendancy” will be the norm in their placement and promotion.

Journal Group sources said that a number of officials are being considered to replace Gen. Acorda as PNP Director for Intelligence (PNP-DI).

However, the name of Brigadier Gen. Rommel Francisco D. Marbil, his classmate from PMA Class of 1991, has cropped up as a “major contender” to become the new PNP-DI director.

A former PNP Highway Patrol Group (HPG) director, Marbil has been the Police Regional Office (PRO) 8 director in Eastern Visayas since August 8, 2022.

Acorda said he has ordered his men to concentrate on problems on illegal drugs, insurgency, and terrorism, and of course, “police scalawags” in their areas of jurisdiction.

“They already know the drill. I just reiterated our main concerns,” he said.