3 rivals for top PNP post all come from controversial PMA Class ’71

Three rivals for the post of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief have smoked the peace pipe and agreed to support whoever President Arroyo would name to succeed Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr.

Ebdane is set to retire in December next year.

The three – all members of Philippine Military Academy class 1971 – are Deputy Director General Edgar Aglipay, PNP deputy chief for administration; Deputy Director General Virtus Gil, deputy chief for operations, and Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco, Metro Manila police commander.

Another classmate, Director Eduardo Matillano, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, is said to be a "dark horse" in the race.

"We agreed that whoever will be named by President Arroyo as the next PNP chief would be supported by the whole class," said Velasco.

On the other hand, Aglipay said they have decided not to resort to "dirty tricks" to derail the chance of the other to be PNP chief.

But Velasco said he was the most senior among the three of them.

At least 15 members of PMA class 1971 in the PNP met Wednesday in Aglipay’s office and distanced themselves from their two classmates –Senators Gregorio Honasan and Panfilo Lacson.

They asked Honasan to come out of hiding and face the charges against him, and Lacson to bring his accusations against First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo to court and stop dragging the issue in the media.

Honasan has been accused by Mrs. Arroyo of instigating junior military officers to launch the failed July 27 uprising.

Lacson is locked in a verbal tussle with Mr. Arroyo over the First Gentleman’s alleged involvement in money laundering and other illegal activities.

Aglipay said some 40 to 50 members of PMA class 1971 will meet again this weekend to affirm their support for the Arroyo administration.

"We will ask our classmates in the military to adopt our statement of support for the Arroyo administration," he said.

Their classmates in the Army, Navy and Air Force, including Armed Forces chief Gen. Narciso Abaya and Army Lt. Gen. Romeo Dominguez had earlier signified their intention to attend the meeting, he added.

Other members of PMA class 1971 occupying top PNP posts are: Director Ricardo de Leon, police-community relations chief; Director Hercules Cataluña, plans; Director Jose Lalisan, personnel; Chief Superintendent Ruben Cabagnot, deputy director for personnel, and Chief Superintendent Teodorico Viduya. –Non Alquitran, Mike Frialde