Permanent PNP chief needed by January 2020, says official

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) spokesperson Brigadier General Bernard Banac said on Tuesday, November 19, that it is necessary for the national police agency to have a permanent chief by January 2020 to ensure continuous procurement of equipment to boost operational capability.

“Pagpasok ng bagong taon, para sa pagsimula ng ating procurement, ay kinakailangan na magkaroon na tayo ng bagong Chief PNP. Dahil kung may anumang bagong kontrata na kailangang pirmahan, kailangan isang permanent Chief PNP ang siyang lalagda dito,” Banac said in press conference.

“Subalit kung hindi pa gagawin ng pangulo, wala namang magiging problema. Mahaba naman ang taon na pwedeng isagawa ang procurement. Wala tayong nakikita pa na problema,” he added.

On Monday evening, President Rodrigo Duterte led a joint command conference with the National Task Force To End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

Banac said the appointment of a new PNP chief was not discussed during the meeting which means PNP officer-in-charge Lieutenant General Archie Gamboa will continue with his “limited function.”

Gamboa took over the post when retired PNP chief Oscar Albayalde went on a non-duty status on October 14 after he was implicated in the recycling of illegal drugs.

Earlier, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the President should not be rushed into choosing a new PNP chief because it is his job to review the selection thoroughly.

“Ganyan talaga. Ang isang Pangulo bago mag-appoint, pinag-iisipan maigi,” Panelo said.

“Kahit wala pang permanente meron namang OIC at magaling yung OIC,” he added.

The top three contenders for the PNP chief post aside from Gamboa are Lieutenant General Camilo Cascolan, deputy chief for operations; and Major General Guillermo Eleazar, former Metro Manila police director and now chief of the directorial staff.

In late October, Duterte admitted that he was having difficulty in selecting the “appropriate guy” who will take over as new PNP chief.

“It’s kind of a - hindi naman (not really) messy, but it’s - very hard to at this time choose a candidate na who would really... The appropriate guy. Mahirap eh,” Duterte said. (SunStar Philippines)

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