HE may be retiring this coming June 14 but Major General Eliseo DC Cruz is still considered by many as a possible contender for the top Philippine National Police (PNP) post to be vacated on April 24 by General Rodolfo S. Azurin Jr.

Many have cited the case 24th PNP chief, Gen. Camilo Pancratius P. Cascolan who on September 2, 2020 was named by then President Rodrigo R. Duterte to become the country’s top cop or two months before Cascolan retired at the age of 56 on November 10 of the same year.

No one questioned the wisdom and the decision of then President Duterte who cited the fact that then Lieutenant Gen. Cascolan, as PNP Deputy Chief for Administration was the ‘most senior and qualified’ to head the professional force worthy of the people’s trust.

Maj. Gen. Cruz, now PNP Director for Investigation and Detective Management, has been described as a ‘typical example’ of a noble police officer admired and respected by his peers, colleagues and subordinates in the 227,000-strong police organization.

One of the Top 10 graduates of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) ‘Sambisig’ Class of 1990, Cruz is a multi-awarded officer who has been a recipient of over 200 medals and other recognitions from the PNP, local government units and other organizations here and abroad.

He was among the Country’s Outstanding Policemen in Service (COPS) awardee in 2009, a Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Provincial Officer of the Year in 2003; and a Police Regional Office 4-A (PRO4-A) Best Senior Police Commissioned Officer for Operations in 2015.

During his younger years, Cruz was designated as CIDG provincial officer in five provinces in Calabarzon and Central Luzon regions and two districts in the National Capital Region.

The official was also conferred the prestigious PMA Cavalier Awardee for Police Operations last February 18 by no less than President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr. during the PMA Alumni Homecoming in Fort del Pilar in Baguio City.

A well-rounded police officer, Maj. Gen. Cruz held positions of major responsibility in different PNP provincial, regional and national level administrative and operational units.

He distinguished himself as chief of the Cabanatuan City Police Station in Nueva Ecija and later as Cavite Police Provincial Office director.

Maj. Gen. Cruz also became director of the PNP Highway Patrol Group twice, a Northern Police District director and a two-time Southern Police District director. He also became a PNP-CIDG director and was once a Police Regional Office 4-A director in Calabarzon region.

The official is a graduate of a number of foreign schooling such as the Public Safety Officers’ Senior Executive Seminar sponsored by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation; a Documents Fraud and Illegal Immigration Course in Italy; an Explosive Incident Counter-Measure Course in the U.S.; and an Investigative Interview Technique Course in Thailand.

Known as a champion in balancing family and career, Maj. Gen. Cruz is a loyal husband to his wife Mrs. Leticia ‘Let-let’ O. Cruz and a good father to their children Ciaeli Marie, Juneli Christian and Joriel Joseph.

He is a true-blooded PNP-HPG ‘Rider and became the First Chief Master Rider in the PNP apart from being a member of the Free and Accepted Masons in the Philippines and Mabuhay Shriners Philippines.

Last February, Maj. Gen. Cruz became the PNP-DIDM director where he called on his men to further raise the bar of excellence in delivering to the public what they have been trained to do: investigate and solve crimes as soon as possible.

Prior to that, he was Deputy Commander of the Area Police Command-Visayas before being designated as PNP-CIDG director by former PNP chief, Gen. Dionardo B. Carlos. As PNP-CIDG director, Major Gen. Cruz led the unit in conducting major anti-crime accomplishments and in investigating heinous crimes incluidng the case of the 34 ‘missing sabungeros.’

As PNP-DIDM director, the official is primarily responsible for the direction, control, coordination and supervision of the investigation of all crime incidents and offenses in violation of the laws of the country.

A public servant who takes his job very seriously, Maj. Gen. Cruz is also known for his ‘much love for the country,’ his alma mater and the PNP which helped him achieve his childhood dreams of becoming a protector of the poor and the oppressed.

A native of Cabanatuan City, Cruz originally wanted to become an architect who ended up taking engineering at the Nueva Ecija State College because the latter was not offering an architecture course.

Coming from a poor family, Cruz persevered to enter and graduate from the PMA citing his father Oca as his hero and real inspiration in chasing his dreams.

Many don’t know that the two-star police general during his high school days became a construction worker and a stevedore in a softdrink warehouse simply to earn extra money to help his family.

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 on 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 227,000-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 both 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 that the President, as the 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 duly-constituted authorities.