The Philippine National Police (PNP) sees no problem with President Duterte’s decision to further defer the appointment of the country’s top cop and instead tasked retired military general Eduardo Año as the “caretaker.”
PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said that as the current secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Año is in the better position to temporarily lead the PNP while the President is still choosing the next PNP chief.
The PNP is under the supervision of the DILG and as DILG secretary, Año is also the concurrent chairman of the National Police Commission (Napolcom).
“Being the concurrent Chairman of Napolcom himself, Secretary Año already knows all about the PNP,” said Banac.
“As Chairman of the Napolcom, Secretary Año is in the top hierarchy of the PNP Chain of Command, and is in the best position to cascade the strategic direction of the Commander-in-Chief upon the PNP,” he added.
Banac said they are looking forward to working with Año, a former chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
“We will now await further guidance and instructions from Secretary Año and we will give him our full support,” said Banac. (Aaron Recuenco)
