Exclusive: 4th of a series

IF President Rodrigo Duterte were to continue his ‘revolving door policy’ when it comes to appointing his Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces chiefs, PNP chief, General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar’s powerful Command Group will for sure be automatically in his list of possible successors to Eleazar when he retires on November 13.

They are PNP Deputy Chief for Administration, Lieutenant Gen. Joselito M. Vera Cruz who will be retiring on March 8, 2020; PNP Deputy Chief for Operations, Lt. Gen. Israel Ephraim T. Dickson, retiring on March 27 next year; and PNP The Chief Directorial Staff, Lt. Gen. Dionardo B. Carlos, who will retire on May 8, 2022.

Lt. Generals Vera Cruz and Dickson are classmates of Gen. Eleazar from Philippine Military Academy (PMA) ‘Hinirang’ Class of 1987 while Lt. Gen. Carlos belongs to PMA ‘Maringal’ Class of 1988.

Lt. Gen. Vera Cruz is currently the PNP’s no. 2 official and head of the Joint Administrative Support for COVID-19 Task Force.

Of the three, both Lt. Generals Dickson and Carlos have been given the chance to become Police Regional Office directors in the past.

Dickson used to be a Cordillera Police Regional Office director, a former PNP Civil Security Group director and once headed the PNP Directorate for Integrated Police Operations-Northern Luzon. He is now the PNP’s no. 3 man and concurrent commander of the Joint Task Force COVID Shield.

Carlos, a former PNP spokesperson became a director of the PNP Aviation Security Group and Highway Patrol Group, a Police Regional Office director in Eastern Visayas and director of the PNP-DIPO Visayas until he was designated as PNP-TCDS, the 4th highest position in the PNP by Gen. Eleazar last May.

Section 26 of Republic Act 6975 or the Department of Interior and Local Government Act of 1990 which paved the way for the establishment of the PNP has this to say on the Chief,PNP.

The law specifically states the ‘powers, functions and term of Office of the PNP Chief. Section 26 says that “the command and direction of the PNP shall be vested in the Chief of the PNP who shall have the power to direct and control tactical as well as strategic movements, deployment, placement, utilization of the PNP or any of its units and personnel, including its equipment, facilities and other resources.”

The same law also says that “such command and direction of the Chief of the PNP may be delegated to subordinate officials with the respect to the units under their respective commands, in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission.”

“The Chief of the PNP shall also have the power to issue detailed implementing policies and instructions regarding personnel, funds, properties, records, correspondence and such other matters as may be necessary to effectivity carry out the functions, powers and duties of the Bureau,” it adds.

Most importantly, the same law says that “the Chief of the PNP shall be appointed by the President from among the senior officers down to the rank of chief superintendent, subject to confirmation by the Commission on Appointments: Provided, That the Chief of the PNP shall serve a term of office not to exceed four (4) years: Provided, further, That in times of war or other national emergency declared by Congress, the President may extend such term of office.”

Although the three will be retiring in less than a year, there is no law barring their appointment to the top PNP position. Republic Act 8551 or the Philippine National Police Reform and Reorganization Act of 1998 enacted on February 25, 1998 says that “Except for the Chief, PNP, no PNP member who has less than one (1) year of service before reaching the compulsory retirement age shall be promoted to a higher rank or appointed to any other position.”

Under his administration, President Duterte so far had also designated three PNP chiefs who has less than a year left in the service. They are Gen. Camilo Pancratius P. Cascolan of PMA ‘Sinagtala’ Class of 1986 who only served for two months—from September 2 to November 10, 2020; followed by Gen. Eleazar’s mistah, Gen. Debold M. Sinas who was the PNP chief from November 10, 2020 to last May 8; and Eleazar who became the 26th Chief,PNP after the retirement of Sinas.

Although it will always be the prerogative of President Duterte, as the Commander-in-Chief to select his PNP chief, there have been a number of opposition to his so-called ‘revolving door policy’ since the one who is appointed needs to leave while literally being given not enough time to warm his seat.

This has happened in the case of Generals Cascolan, Sinas and Eleazar who could have done more had they were given sufficient time as chief of the 222,000-strong national police force.

The first three PNP chiefs of President Duterte, all classmates from PMA Class 1986 of Gen. Cascolan served more months than the last three Chiefs.

Gen. Ronald ‘Bato’ M. dela Rosa, now a Senator running for the 2022 presidential election was PNP chief from July 1, 2016 to April 19, 2018 or for 21 months.

His successor, Gen. Oscar D. Albayalde served as PNP chief from April 19, 2010 to October 4, 2019 or for 21 months while Gen. Gamboa served as PNP Officer-in-Charge from October 14, 2019 to January 20, 2020 until he was designated by President Duterte as PNP chief from January 20 to September 2, 2020, his 56th birthday.

With still eight months left before he leaves the Palace, President Duterte will still have to designate his 7th Chief,PNP. The appointment, officials told the Journal Group will be very crucial since the next PNP Chief will not only be sustaining 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 2022 national and local elections, specifically in preparing for the hotly-contested presidency.

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 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.

Since 1991 to date, the PNP already had 26 Chiefs, the 1st being the late Gen. Cesar ‘Hari-Hari’ Nazareno and the 26th is Gen. Eleazar. It should be interesting to note that all the PNP chiefs we have were products of the prestigious PMA.

However, officials said that the President’s trust and confidence will always play a major role in his decision, particularly now that the 2022 elections are forthcoming.

Right now, there are many speculations on who will be the next Chief,PNP although all agree that the candidates to replace Gen. Eleazar are all qualified and have proven their worth when it comes to serving the country with pride and honor.

Thus, Camp Crame observers say that President Duterte really has to make a good final decision with his presidency coming to an end. This has something to do with service reputation, sterling service record, untarnished integrity and the most important of them all, loyalty to the President and the Republic, a former PNP chief told the Journal Group on condition of anonymity.

(To be concluded: Ferro and De Leon of PMA Class 1989)