Gamboa wants no celebration for his birthday

September 1, 2020

The chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday said there will be no celebration for his birthday and mandatory retirement on September 2.

Police General Archie Francisco Gamboa said he issued a directive to all police officers that there will be no mañanita for him.

“There will be no celebration and no mañanita. I already issued a directive that no one should attempt to hold a mañanita. They said Zoom… you will wake me up then we will just do it on Zoom. There’s no need,” Gamboa said.

Mañanita is a military and police tradition where subordinates greet their commander celebrating a birthday at the early break of the morning.

However, Gamboa said he is thankful that everyone is excited to greet him on his birthday.

“Anyway I know everybody is excited to greet me. So again thank you for that. It was really nice serving the Filipino people,” he said.

Asked about his birthday wish, Gamboa said it is for PNP to be better and for the organization to have much-needed support from the community.

As to his experience, he said the challenges he faced as the chief PNP is not only unique to them but to the whole nation.

“So really I would thank God  I was able to pull through with these all kinds of challenges that I have encountered during my incumbency,” he said.

Gamboa said he will deliver his last speech on Wednesday.

According to Malacanang, PNP deputy chief for administration Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan will be the officer-in-charge if Gamboa's replacement has not been named. Ella Dionisio/DMS