President Marcos mulls term extension for Marbil

MANILA, Philippines — Citing the need for leadership continuity during the midterm elections, President Marcos said yesterday he is considering extending the term of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil.

Marbil will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 on Feb. 7.

“There is argument that it would not be good for stability, especially to change the chief PNP in the middle of a campaign period and then approaching the elections,” Marcos said.

“So we are studying it. But I think there is probably a very strong argument to keep him on, at the very least, until after the elections.”

Marbil assumed the top PNP post in April 2024. He is the third PNP chief under the Marcos administration.

Last week, Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Marbil would possibly stay in his post amid the upcoming midterm elections.

Marbil remains mum on the possibility that President Marcos might extend his tenure beyond his retirement in February.

Marbil, who was the presiding officer during the 72nd founding anniversary celebration of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group at Camp Crame yesterday, declined when asked for comment.

‘No exemption needed’

According to the Commission on Elections (Comelec), there is no need for an exemption if ever Marbil will stay on as PNP chief after Feb. 7.

“An extension is not considered as ‘transfer or detail of officers and employees in the civil service,’ which is prohibited and requires prior approval of the Comelec to validly take effect,” Comelec spokesman John Rex Laudiangco said yesterday.

Meanwhile, in a bid to protect the integrity of the May elections, the PNP will run after police and military personnel who will be favoring politicians running for elective posts.

Marbil said the PNP has intensified the operations against the so-called three ‘Gs’: guns, goons and gold.

To rid the uniformed services of scalawags, politically biased members of the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have been classified under “goons.”

Marbil said they are keeping tabs on PNP personnel who could be favoring candidates.

The PNP has transferred to other posts police officers who have relatives running in the elections to deter them from influencing the outcome of the polls. — Emmanuel Tupas