Integrity, track record are some basis for Año recommending next PNP chief

October 22, 2019

Integrity and track record are some of the basis of Interior Secretary Eduardo Año in choosing who he will recommend to President Rodrigo Duterte as the next head of the Philippine National Police (PNP), according to an official from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

“The basis was their integrity and track record because what we need I think, moving forward is a ‘healing’ chief PNP coming from what happen,” Interior  Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said in a press briefing.

“We need someone who will be able to redirect the organization to its original intent and original mandate… it seems we went on a different path because of the problem besetting the organization. So on this basis, the three were recommended by the National Police Commission head by Secretary Eduardo Año,” he added.

In a text message to reporters on Monday, Año confirmed that Police Lieutenant General Francisco Archie Gamboa, Police Lieutenant General Camilo Pancratius Cascolan and Police Major General Guillermo Eleazar were the names he recommended to the president.

The interior secretary said he submitted the list last October 17.

In his earlier interviews, Año said Duterte can still choose his preferred chief PNP even if it is not in his recommendation.

Gamboa is the officer-in-charge of the PNP after Police General Oscar Albayalde relinquished from his post last October 14; while Cascolan is the deputy chief PNP for operations; and Eleazar is the chief of directorial staff.

On the cancellation of the change of command ceremony on October 29, Malaya said it could be possible it was cancelled because Duterte has yet to choose the next chief PNP.

“One of the reasons could be is the president is looking for the next chief PNP, so I think a turnover ceremony is better scheduled when the president has  made the decision on who will be the next chief PNP,” he said.

“While there is (no decision), I would presume they see that there is no need for a turnover,” he added.

The change of command was scheduled earlier when Albayalde was still the PNP chief because Duterte is scheduled to attend the ASEAN Summit.

Albayalde was expected to retire  on November 8 but because of issues thrown at him over alleged ''ninja cops'' and drug recycling, he stepped down from his post. Ella Dionisio/DMS