Wednesday, August 27, 2008 Versoza, Barias eyed for PNP chief post
POLICE Deputy Director General Jesus Versoza has been highly recommended as the next chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) vice Director General Avelino Razon Jr. who would retire on September 27, a Malacañang official said.
“He (Versoza) is highly recommended but the President (Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) has not appointed anyone yet,” Deputy presidential spokesperson Lorelei Fajardo said.
Reports said the President is open to the idea of Versoza leading the police after Razon seeing no problem in working with him.
Versoza was the former chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) before he was named directorate for administration. He, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1976, also served as chief of PNP-Region 4 (Southern Tagalog).
Aside from Versoza, also being floated as Razon’s successor is National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Gerry Barias, a member of the PMA Class of 1975.
Barias, prior to his current post, was head of the Caraga Police Regional Office. He also held the PNP Headquarters Support Services post.
As this developed, President Arroyo, during an informal media interaction at Clark Economic Zone in Pampanga, said she already has a shortlist for the vacant commissioner’s post in the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
Arroyo, however, said she is not in a hurry to appoint anyone yet as “the new appointees have yet to be confirmed.”
The three commissioners that have yet to be confirmed by the Commission on Appointments are Moslemen Macarambon, Leonardo Leonida, and Lucenito Tagle.
Asked if she has already chosen her next Overseas Worker Welfare Office (Owwa) chief, the President said: “You wait for (Executive Secretary Eduardo) Ermita to announce.”
Earlier reports said defeated Team Unity senatorial bet and former Surigao del Norte congressman Prospero Pichay is being eyed for the post. (JMR/Sunnex)
