SOME friends mentioned to me that one of their peers named Colonel Pedro Soliba on Friday marked his 55th birthday. It was supposed to be a joyous occasion for the member of PNP Academy ‘Tagapagpatupad’ Class of 1992 but not for him and his family.

It turned out that Soliba is now automatically disqualified from getting a star-rank promotion, he being just one of the many officers whose life-time dream of becoming a police general has been jeopardized by the fact that PNP Officer-in-Charge, Lieutenant General Vic Danao Jr. cannot recommend or sign their promotion papers simply due to his OIC position since last May 9.

As a rule, no police officer who has less than a year left in the service can be promoted to the next higher rank and that’s what happened to Col. Soliba. Unlike 3rd-level officers in the PNP, the law however 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.

This is one of the reasons why President Bongbong Marcos Jr. really has to appoint his 1st Chief,PNP now. Designating a permanent PNP chief would stop the ‘wait-and-see attitude’ by many officers holding key positions in the organization right now and help restore normalcy in the force. PBBM’s 1st PNP chief would also help the 225,000-strong force finally settle down.

Yes, Lt. Gen. Danao, a member of PMA ‘Sambisig’ Class of 1991 has really made a fine job in handling the police force since last May 9 specifically in its war on drugs and other forms of criminality, insurgency and terror as well as corruption. Just look at how the PNP performed in making the May 9 national and local elections the most peaceful in recent history.

However, friends have been telling me that the PNP-OIC’s hands since May 9 are tied when it comes to placement and promotion as well as other PNP administrative matters. Another issue that is being discussed by officials at the moment is the Memorandum Circular 3 signed by Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez last July 27 which “extended the term of designated officers-in-charge of departments and agencies from July 31 to December 31 this year or until a replacement has been appointed.”

“The Executive Secretary, under the authority of the President, has issued a supplement to MC1 numbered Memorandum Circular 3. This extends
the authority of Officers in Charge until December 31, 2022, unless a replacement has been designated or appointed, whichever comes first,” Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said in a statement.

MC 3 will ensure that no new contract, project, or disbursement of extraordinary funds is made by a department, agency, bureau, or office until the appointment is made by the President.

As directed by the Palace, the retained OICs, from the department level down to the sub-agencies or bureaus, may not enter into new contracts or projects or disburse extraordinary funds—except for those involved in the food, transportation, and energy sectors.

Officials explained to me that unless given additional authority by the Palace or the DILG-Napolcom, Lt. Gen. Danao, as the Memo Circular 3 says, won’t be able to sign any projects or procurement contract for the police force in case his term is extended until December 31.

That means all programs of the PNP to further improve its ‘move, shoot, communicate and investigate’ capabilities in the next five months will temporarily be in the ‘freezer’ since Lt. Gen. Danao is the Official Signing Authority in all PNP procurement.

With that in mind, I join all well-intentioned people in calling for PBBM to appoint a Chief,PNP who really will have the command and direction of the PNP; 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.

Having a permanent PNP chief will normalize the situation in the force which has proven its professionalism time and again when it comes to respecting the decision of the Commander-in-Chief. It surely will boost the morale of everybody and prevent backbiting and other similar efforts to undermine one candidate or another.

By having an official Chief,PNP, I expect everybody to toe the line, the organization speaking in one voice and moving in one page as it provides support to the PBBM administration’s programs in the next six years.

As I have said previously, there have been a number of smear campaign against some personalities involved in the race or those perceived to be giving the recommendation to the President. Then, there are also the internal and external forces in the PNP who are watching who will be PBBM’s 1st top cop.

But again, i will emphasize that the good service reputation, the solid character and traits and the performance of the candidates from their Lieutenant, Captains and Major days and up will play a major role in their selection.

Other factors include loyalty to the country and the Constitution and of course, the dogged determination to carry out the tough task of being the Chief,PNP. My friends have been telling me that BBM won’t be having a hard time picking his 1st Chief,PNP since he has many trusted aides who can give him the best recommendation since they know the ins and outs of the police force and its officials.

Since he took his oath as president last June 30, PBBM has not decided yet on whom will he appoint as his 1st Chief,PNP, the man who will implement his peace and order programs needed to spur economic growth. It should be noted that the law says that the Commander-in-Chief may choose the PNP chief from any official with the rank of 1-star or Brigadier General and up.

Let me enumerate again the contenders for the post as mentioned to me by very knowledgeable sources. Of course, there is Lt. Gen. Danao. The others are three members of PMA ‘Makatao’ Class of 1989, namely PNP Deputy Chief for Administration, Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, PNP Director for Operations, Maj. Gen. Val de Leon and Area Police Command-Northern Luzon commander, Lt. Gen. Jun Azurin.

The names of Police Regional Office 10 director in Northern Mindanao, Brigadier Gen. Benjie Acorda, also of PMA Class 1991 and PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director, Maj. Gen. Ely Cruz of PMA ‘Bigkis Lahi’ Class of 1990 have also been mentioned as contenders for the top PNP post.

The age of the candidates is expected to count here. Lt. Gen. Danao will be retiring on August 10, 2023; Lt. Gen. Sermonia on January 26, 2024; Lt. Gen. Azurin on April 24, 2023; Maj. Gen. de Leon on May 7, 2023; Maj. Gen. Cruz on June 14, 2023; and Brig. Gen. Acorda on December 3, 2023.

All these officials are my friends who have the solid characters, qualification and competency to lead the police force. However, many star-rank officials and middle-grade officers who have been watching from the sidelines have told me the one but same thing: all the candidates must immediately gather and air their support to whoever will be PBBM’s choice. There is really a big need for the PNP to become UNITED under the PBBM presidency, no ifs and buts.