Duterte bars political patronage in PNP

MANILA, Philippines —  President Duterte said yesterday he will not tolerate political patronage or “palakasan” in the Philippine National Police after he appointed National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Oscar Albayalde as the new PNP chief.

Duterte said he deemed Albayalde fit for the job although he did not come from his home province, Davao, like outgoing PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa.

“I choose the right guy for the position. Albayalde to me is the right guy for the moment. He is it,” the President said in a press briefing that followed his departure speech in Davao City.

Duterte then ordered the over 100,000–strong police force to work hard in making the PNP a professional organization, stressing that he is not into micro-managing the police force.

“ I’m addressing myself to the rest of the guys. You know, I do not micromanage, one. Two, I don’t choose  your subordinates,” he said, referring to the assignment of police officials to regional and provincial offices.

 “I do not recommend. I do not tinker with that,” Duterte said. 

While he sometimes engages politicians in dialogues, Duterte said he ignores their recommendations to give the top PNP officials a free hand in running the organization.

“I do not listen to politicians about their recommendations. It’s going to be – if there’s a process there, a board something then let them do it,” he said.

Duterte said he also adopts the same policy when it comes to the Armed Forces of the Philippines, especially the Philippine Army.