Binay to SPD: Give me a permanent police chief

Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay is asking the Southern Police District (SPD) to install a permanent chief for the Makati City Police Department (MCPD).

According to him, businessmen in the country’s financial capital are concerned over the leadership vacuum created by last month’s "relief" of Senior Superintendent Marietto Valerio.

Binay said the absence of a permanent head at the MCPD might affect the morale of the members of the local police force.

He said SPD director Senior Superintendent Ricardo Padilla should submit to him the list of nominees for the position.

"Under the law, the local chief executive selects the new police chief from a list submitted by the PNP," he explained. "We believe this should be done at the soonest possible time in order to avoid any uncertainty and instability that normally comes with the lack of permanence in such a position."

Valerio has been transferred to Pasay City after being "relieved" for supposedly serving an arrest warrant for libel against a pro-Charter Change organizer in Makati.

The real reason behind his removal and subsequent transfer remains a mystery since others have claimed that the former MCPD chief actually went on leave.

After his relief, Superintendent Felipe Napoles Jr. took over as officer-in-charge. He became controversial after the National Police Commission (Napolcom) demoted him to the rank of chief inspector five years after he was caught in possession of a stolen vehicle.

He is now asking for a reconsideration of the decision, claiming that he bought the vehicle in good faith and that even if the ruling is upheld, the punishment is too severe.