MANILA, Philippines — Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao takes over the helm of the Philippine National Police (PNP) as officer-in-charge (OIC) after his appointment by President Duterte yesterday, four days before the elections.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año confirmed to reporters the appointment of Danao as OIC to replace Gen. Dionardo Carlos who is set to retire on the eve of elections upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56. Danao will formally assume the OIC post on Sunday.
Malacañang confirmed Danao’s appointment as OIC of PNP and expressed optimism that he would sustain efforts to further professionalize the police force.
“We are confident that General Danao will continue efforts to transform the PNP into a more dynamic and more professional organization performing its mandate of serving and protecting our people,” acting presidential spokesman Martin Andanar said in a statement.
Danao, who just recently took over as deputy chief of operations, will have his hands full as he oversees the security of the national and local elections.
He was in command of the National Security Task Force on national and local elections when he received his appointment as acting PNP chief.
“As OIC of the PNP, Danao’s first order of the day is to ensure that all security preparations are in place and all police units are mobilized and on alert so that the country will have a peaceful, orderly, and honest elections,” Año said in a statement.
The interior and local government chief said Carlos’ retirement and Danao’s succession would not upset any ongoing security preparations by the police.
Año said he is confident that Danao, whom he had worked with in Davao City as part of the Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division, would be able to provide good leadership and direction to the police force to enable it to fulfill its peacekeeping role in the coming elections.
“I also count on Gen. Danao to continue and further intensify the PNP’s ongoing campaign against criminality and lawlessness, communist terrorism, illegal drugs and all forms of criminality. The Filipino people are counting on you,” he added.
In a statement, Carlos called Danao a “fine officer” deserving of his new role in the police force.
“Upon my retirement, I shall pass on the baton of leadership of the Philippine National Police to Police Lieutenant General Vicente Danao Jr., the Deputy Chief for Operations, a fine officer whom I look up to with great respect and admiration,” Carlos said.
“My retirement will not in any way hamper the current preoccupation of the PNP to guarantee secure, accurate, free and fair elections on May 9th. The dynamics of the police service ensure seamless continuity of command to carry on with unfinished tasks and ongoing programs,” he added.
PNP public information chief Brig. Gen. Roderick Alba said Danao certainly has the qualities of a leader who can deliver results especially “in a crucial time that we are ushering a very important democratic exercise in the country.”
“Whatever PNP chief Gen. Carlos started will be continued by Gen. Danao. Gen. Danao will perform this new task in an OIC capacity in the meantime because of the prohibition in the movement of government positions while the election period is in effect,” Alba said.
Prior to his appointment as PNP OIC, Danao was the organization’s third in command as Directorial Staff Chief. He had also served as chief of the National Capital Region Police Office, Calabarzon Regional Police Office and Manila Police District.
Danao, who belongs to the Philippine Military Academy “Sambisig” Class of 1991, is also a former Davao City police chief. — Neil Jayson Servallos, Alexis Romero