WEDNESDAY’S scheduled Change of Command Ceremony and Retirement Honors for Philippine National Police chief General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. was moved on Monday, April 1.

There was no reason given for the postponed rites at Camp Crame where President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. was scheduled to lead the event at the PNP Transformation Oval with President Bongbong Marcos as the inducting officer of whoever will be the new top cop.

There were still no information on who will replace Gen. Acorda when he ends his extended term on March 31. However, President Marcos has the prerogative to choose a new Chief,PNP from any 3rd-Level Official with the rank of Brigadier General and up.

The Commander-in-Chief extended Acorda’s term until March 31 this year hours before the latter marked his 56th birthday last December 3. Since then, Gen. Acorda has continued his heavy work, even inspecting transport terminals last Monday to ensure his men’s readiness to protect the public this Holy Week.

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 President Marcos 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. Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. of PMA ‘Makatao’ Class of 1989.

Highly- reliable Journal Group 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 B. Peralta; PNP Deputy Chief for Operations Lt. Gen. Michael John F. Dubria; and PNP The Chief Directorial Staff Lt. Gen. Jon A. Arnaldo. Another PMA Class 1991 member, PNP Director for Comptrollership Major Gen. Rommel Francisco D. Marbil has also been touted as a 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. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez Jr., PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director, Major Gen. Romeo M. Caramat Jr. and PNP Director for Operations Maj. Gen. Ronald O. Lee.

Other members of PMA Class 1992 who are possible ‘Chief,PNP-tiables’ are PNP Director for Logistics, Maj. Gen. Mario A. Reyes, PNP Director for Investigation and Detective Management Maj. Gen. Leo M. Francisco and Area Police Command-Western Mindanao commander Lt. Gen. Jonnel C. Estomo.

Another contender is a member of PNP Academy ‘Tagapagpatupad’ Class of 1992, PNP Director for Police-Community Relations, Major Gen. Edgar Alan O. Okubo.

However, many Journal Group 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.

The next PNP chief must have a very 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, officials said.