President Duterte is looking for an “honest” new Philippine National Police chief even if the candidate has a lower rank, according to Sen. Christopher Go.
Days after former PNP chief Police Gen. Oscar Albayalde retired from the service, Go admitted that the President was having difficulty searching for the country’s next top cop.
“Hanggang ngayon wala pa siyang napipisil. Naghahanap siya na honest na PNP chief. ‘Yung hinahanap niya talagang perfect na honest siguro. Nahihirapan siyang maghanap,” Go said yesterday. “Parati niya kinukwento nga na may tao na kahit may araw, naghahanap ng lampara. Bakit naghahawak ka ng lampara kahit na may araw, nakikita mo naman ‘yung nasa paligid mo? Kasi hirap pala siya maghanap ng honest man,” the President’s former aide added.
Go also said the President has the prerogative if he wants to consider a police officer even with a lower rank to serve as the next PNP chief. “Alam ninyo prerogative ng executive, ng Pangulo na pumili kahit na one-star possible, two-star possible,” he said.
He noted that the country’s past two police chiefs held lower ranks before they were promoted. He said former PNP chief Police Gen. Ronald dela Rosa was a police brigadier general while Albayalde was a police major general when they were appointed to lead the police force.
“Posible ‘yun na pumili siya from one-star, two-star, even the three-star general,” he said.
Asked if the President will appoint a new police chief by December, Go said he could not say. “Wala siyang sinasabi na mayroon na siyang choice. Hinayaan niya munang linisin niya ‘yung gusot at dumi diyan sa loob,” he added.
Among the nominees reportedly recommended to take the place of Albayalde are Police Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa, the current officer-in-charge and deputy chief for administration; Police Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan, deputy chief for operations; and Police Major Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar, chief of the directorial staff. The three police officers have reportedly been recommended by the National Police Commission and Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año.
Albayalde earlier stepped down from his post ahead of his Nov. 8 retirement amid allegations of involvement in the drug recycling scandal. He has denied the charges. (Genalyn Kabiling)
