7 PNP chief contenders named

MANILA, Philippines — More than a week after assuming office, President Marcos has yet to choose the next chief of the 226,000-strong Philippine National Police (PNP).

Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., who has supervision over the PNP, said over the weekend that the matter is still being discussed.

Seven names have cropped up as the possible first national police chief under the Marcos administration. Among them are PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr., deputy chief for administration Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia and directorial staff chief Lt. Gen. Manuel Abu.

The other possible contenders are PNP Area Police Command Northern Luzon head Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Directorate for Operations chief Maj. Gen. Valeriano de Leon, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group director Maj. Gen. Eliseo Cruz and National Capital Region Police Office chief Maj. Gen. Felipe Natividad.

Danao, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1991, has been serving as the PNP’s caretaker since May, leading the police force in securing the last elections. He will retire on Aug. 10, 2023.

Danao and De Leon are said to be members of the “Davao Boys,” having served in Davao City, the hometown of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

The two, together with Natividad, supervised the security coverage for Marcos’ inauguration at the National Museum in Manila on June 30.

Sermonia, a member of the PMA Class of 1989, previously headed the PNP Directorate for Police Community Relations Group. He also served as director of the Central Luzon police. He will retire on Jan. 6, 2024.

Sermonia’s classmate, Abu, had stints as commander of the Area Police Command Eastern Mindanao and director of the Bangsamoro police. He will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 on Aug. 1.

Azurin served as director of the Police Regional Office 1. Among the areas under its jurisdiction is Ilocos Norte, the home province of Marcos. Azurin headed the Maritime Group and served as deputy head of the PNP Directorate for Personnel and Records Management.

A perceived advantage of Azurin is that he is an Ilocano like Marcos. He will bow out of the police service on April 24, 2023.

De Leon, who is said to have close ties with Vice President Sara Duterte, was among the officials who supervised the security measures in the last elections.

De Leon previously headed the Central Luzon police and Firearms and Explosives Office. He will retire on May 7, 2023.

Cruz had stints as director of the Calabarzon police, Northern Police District and Southern Police District. He will retire on June 14, 2023.

Natividad served as Calabarzon police chief before he was appointed as Metro Manila’s police commander. He was assigned as special police assistant to former Interior Secretary Eduardo Año.

As Bohol police chief, Natividad led troops in the fight against Abu Sayyaf bandits who attacked the province in 2017. He will retire on Aug. 23, 2023.

Meanwhile, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa said Abalos should not allow suspended “ninja cops” to return to the police service, to ensure the success of the government’s war on drugs.

A ninja cop is the term used to refer to uniformed personnel involved in the illegal drug trade.

“They are the rogue police personnel who are just waiting for former president Rodrigo Duterte to leave Malacañang and they will apply with the PNP for reinstatement,” Dela Rosa said. – Cecille Suerte Felipe