Duterte says he’s taking time to appoint new PNP chief

November 20, 2019

President Rodrigo Duterte has said he was taking time to appoint a new chief of the Philippine National Police ( PNP).

In a press conference late Tuesday night in Malacanang, Duterte said he was given a list of three nominees for the PNP chief, including Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan and Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar. 

Duterte failed to mention the other nominee, but earlier, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said the other one was Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa, the PNP's officer-in-charge since embattled former Police General Oscar Albayalde resigned until he retired from the service on November 8.

"They're all good. They're soldiers. They came from the (Philippine Military) Academy. I have no doubt about their integrity but I am taking my time appointing one," Duterte said.

He said once he appoints the next PNP chief, the latter would be responsible in putting people in every police department, especially the comptroller and the finance people.

Duterte earlier said he wants to make sure that he appoints the right PNP chief after the controversy that hounded Albayalde.

Albyalde  has to step down as head of the 190,000-strong police force following allegations he was a protector of the so-called "ninja cops" who were allegedly involved in the recycling of seized illegal drugs in 2013 when he was still the chief of police of Pampanga province. Albayalde denied the allegation. Celerina Monte/DMS