A KNOWN Davao Boy, Lieutenant General Michael John F. Dubria is a member of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) ‘Sambisig’ Class of 1991 who is being considered as one of the top candidates to succeed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr. on April 24 by virtue of his rank and position.

Currently Chief of Directorial Staff of the 227,000-strong police force, Lt. Gen. Dubria would automatically be in the ‘short list’ of candidates to replace Gen. Azurin if seniority would be used by President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr. in naming his 2nd top cop, the 28th official to head the police force since its creation in 1991.

Noted for his good track record and expertise in the field of police investigation, intelligence, operations and police-community relations,Lt. Gen. Dubria and his classmates were commissioned as Police Inspectors on the same year the PNP was created to replace the former Philippine Constabulary/Integrated National Police.

He will be retiring on December 20, 2024 and would head the force for 20 months if luck would smile on his side.

However, many active and retired police officials have told the Journal Group that the President’s trust and confidence will play a very big role in choosing the next top cop.

Add to that of course the recommendation from the President’s most trusted lieutenants and security officers including Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ C. Abalos Jr.

Born in Davao City on December 20, 1968, Dubria finished his elementary and secondary education in the same city, hometown of former President Rodrigo R. Duterte and his daughter, Vice-President and Department of Education Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio.

After getting his high school diploma in 1987, Dubria entered Fort del Pilar in Baguio City and became one of the proud members of PMA Class 1991.

Members of PMA Class 1991 were already months away from their graduation when a massive 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Luzon on July 16, 1990. Baguio City was among the areas hardest hit by the powerful quake which toppled buildings including hotels, factories and government and university buildings as well as many private homes and establishments.

Then already the senior PMA cadets, members of the class were mobilized to pull bodies or help rescue victims trapped underneath collapsed buildings.

After graduation, Dubria joined the PNP and held a number of positions in the field. He became company commander of the Police Regional Office 1 Regional Mobile Group in Ilocos-Pangasinan region; and an intelligence officer of the Compostela Valley Police Provincial Office; commanding officer of the 1102nd Provincial Mobile Group in Compostela Valley; CO of the 110st Provincial Mobile Group in Davao del Norte and later chief of police of the Tagum and Panabo City Police Stations as well as the Talomo Police Station of the Davao City Police Office.

Dubria also once headed the Police Regional Office 11’s Regional Operations and Plans Division as well as its Regional Intelligence Division before becoming Davao del Sur Police Provincial Office director and later, a Davao City Police Office chief.

Shortly after former President Duterte designated General, now Senator Ronald ‘Bato’ M. dela Rosa as his 1st PNP chief, Dubria was picked by the latter as his Senor Executive Assistant.

Dubria earned his 1st star as director of the PNP Supervisory Office for Security and Investigation Agencies before becoming a Police Regional Office director in Central Mindanao.

He went on to become PNP Director for Intelligence; PNP Civil Security Group director; and an acting commander of Area Police Command-Visayas before he was named PNP-TCDS in November 4 last year vice Maj. Gen. Arthur V. Bisnar of PMA ‘Bigkis-Lahi’ Class of 1990.

Lt. Gen. Dubria got his Masters in Public Administration degree at the Ateneo de Davao University in 2004. Also a well-decorated official, Dubria also finished a management course at the Asian Institute of Management School of Executive Education.

He is also a holder of a Career Service Executive Eligibility (CSEE). Lt. Gen. Dubria is happily married to the former Norlyn Fornellos. The couple have three sons namely Miguel Anglo, Paul Andrei and Rafael John.

Journal Group sources said the appointment of the next PNP chief will be crucial since he will not only be leading the organization’s war on drugs, criminality, terror and corruption but will be appointed at a time that the entire country is preparing for the scheduled Sangguniang Kabataan and Barangay elections. 2022 national and local elections.

Many officials have agreed with the assertion of the Journal Group 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 222,000-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 the duly-constituted authorities.

The law says the President, as Commander-in-Chief, 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.

The law also says that the “lowest rank of a qualified appointee shall be the rank of Police Brigadier General. As PNP chief and an Ex Officio member of the Napolcom, the Chief, PNP is given the power to command and direct the police force.

Since 1991 to date, the PNP already had 28 chiefs, the 1st being the late Gen. Cesar P. Nazareno and the 28th being Gen. Azurin. It should be interesting to note that all the PNP chiefs the country has had since 1991 were all products of the prestigious Baguio City-based Fort del Pilar, the home of the PMA.

Thus, President Marcos really has to make a brilliant decision when it comes to choosing the next Chief,PNP who must have the good service reputation, sterling service record, untarnished integrity and the most important of them all, loyalty to the Constitution and the duly-constituted authorities.