BARRING any unforeseen circumstances, the Philippine National Police Change of Command ceremony will be this coming Holy Wednesday, March 27.

PNP spokesperson Colonel Jean S. Fajardo said that the March 27 date has been set with Camp Crame already preparing for the turnover of command.

However, she said she has no information if PNP chief, General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. will be given another extension by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. or will the latter choose a new Chief PNP from any 3rd-Level Official with the rank of Brigadier General and up.

Col. Fajardo also said that amid rumors he will be getting another extension, Gen. Acorda is continuing his job, busy supervising all police preparations to ensure a peaceful Holy Week observance and a safe summer vacation nationwide.

“What I can tell you is we’re preparing for a turnover, a change of command on March 27,” she said when asked to comment on rumors that Gen. Acorda will be getting another extension after his first extension ends this coming March 31.

President Marcos extended Acorda’s term until March 31 this year hours before the latter marked his 56th birthday last December 3.

“Tuloy-tuloy po ang trabaho ng ating Chief PNP. May scheduled inspection siya ng mga public transport terminals, aattend po siya ng inter-agency meetings. Pero kung mamapalitan po siya, I have no information kung sino ang papalit sa kanya although the President has the sole authority to choose the next Chief,PNP from the Police Brigadier Generals up,” Col. Fajardo told newsmen at Camp Crame.

The official likewise said she has no idea if Gen. Acorda has already submitted to President Marocs the names of three candidates to replace him.

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

Highly-reliable Journal Group sources said that the President can always choose from a number of candidates led by some Ilocano police generals.

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. Micahel 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 F. 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 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, many highly-placed 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.