Who will be the next PNP chief?

I salute PNP OIC Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina for speaking the truth. He spoke from the heart. His courage gave the nation hope. He showed dedication and commitment to the Philippine National Police force. Many of us were reassured that at least there are still men in government who puts God at the center of their lives.

The late Father Horacio Dela Costa, SJ said that since we are born into our faith as Catholics, it is coming from outside rather than from within. In other words he said, “Filipinos don’t see faith as a personal commitment.” Father Jaime Bulatao, SJ (who passed away last week) called our faith a “split-level” Christianity. We go to church but we steal; we say the novena but we lie; we say the rosary but we continue to offend people. If we are deeply committed to our faith, then we should live it. And I think this is what General Espina showed us last week. He showed his commitment to God and to his men. The truth shall set you free, General Espina. God bless!

We need more men who know their vocation in life. The times demand strong men with great hearts and true faith. The morale of the PNP force is low. But it seems that the commander-in-chief is taking his sweet time in deciding who will be the new PNP chief. Where is your sense of urgency Mr. President? It has been more than a month since PNP Chief Purisima was placed under preventive suspension and almost two weeks since he resigned. Isn’t the basis for his suspension enough to replace him?

The PNP OIC’s power is limited to the day-to-day operations of the PNP and as a representative of the agency. He has no power to hire and fire, assign and promote personnel, sign bidding and procurement matters and budget concerns. On the other hand, an acting PNP chief has full capacity and power similar to a full-fledged PNP chief.

However, NAPOLCOM provided a resolution specifying actions that a PNP OIC can perform but then again placement and promotion, strategic deployment is not included in the said resolution.

The PNP being the primary law enforcement agency must be given a fully capacitated leader because peace and order, internal security and public safety must at all times be ensured. Our PNP personnel cannot be led by a headless chicken. They must have direction.

Reliable sources say that the morale of officers and the rank and file is very low. The selection of a new permanent PNP chief could help raise it. There are so many well-meaning, highly competent, values-oriented and willing to serve senior officers who are capable and qualified to lead. The interest of the organization must be the priority and not self-interest.

Who are the possible contenders for the PNP chief position? PNP OIC Director General Leonardo Espina is nearing retirement. Next in the line is directorial staff chief Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo Jr. being the most senior police officer in the PNP. He is a member of PMA Class 1981, and would have enough time to initiate reforms in the agency as his retirement is still on March 2, 2016. Other possible candidates are members of PMA Class ’82 who are occupying sensitive positions in the PNP. They are Director Benjamin Magalong, head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and head of the Board of Inquiry formed to investigate the Mamasapano encounter; Director Carmelo Valmoria, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO); and Director Ricardo Marquez, head of PNP Directorate for Operations.

Valmoria led the SAF forces who drove away Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels from Zamboanga City and restored order in Tacloban City when it was hit by massive looting after Super Typhoon Yolanda. He will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 on July 16. Magalong and Marquez will retire on Dec. 15 and Aug. 28, respectively.

There are talks going around that Aquino was actually eyeing Central Luzon regional director Chief Superintendent Raul Petrasanta of PMA Class ’84. However, he was among those ordered suspended by the Office of the Ombudsman over missing firearms.

Under Republic Act 6975 or the law establishing the PNP under the Department of the Interior and Local Government, any police official with star rank, meaning with the rank of chief superintendent and up, is qualified for appointment as PNP chief.

The younger generation deserves a good PNP chief. The agency should be spared from tainted and corrupt officials who think of self before country and the PNP force. Let’s see now who P-Noy will choose. I just hope it’s not one of his ‘friends’ again but one with honor, dignity, distinction and commitment.

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 Our government had better face the truth about our “war” in Mindanao. We won’t win the fight against any rebel or terrorist group unless we give the morale of our dispirited police officers, soldiers or marines a boost. When a soldier is broken and disheartened what else is left of the force? Our top officials are not telling the truth about what happened to the 44 SAF and how it even started. Someone up there is silent and not talking. There seems to be a conspiracy of some sort to hide the truth. Remember, unanswered questions will cast more doubts on the events happening in Mindanao.

Are the Moro rebels the enemy? Yes they are. They come to peaceful villages with guns in the night and murder in their hearts. Those men who massacre, torture, burn, ambush and kidnap are called ‘outlaws’. They break all the laws but when they are caught, they scream for protection of the law and protect their ‘human rights’. Such savagery and treachery must never be rewarded with ceasefire or negotiations.

As my late father Maximo V. Soliven once wrote, “Let’s honor our heroes who’re fighting and dying for our country in Mindanao. Not defame, bad-mouth, or shoot them in the back. We’re a funny people. We let innocents die then, in a twisted version of the rule of law, defend their tormentors in our courts of law with such a passion and vehemence for their “rights” that one begins to wonder who’s right and who’s wrong: the torturer, the renegade, the murdered – or his victims.”