The country may have a new Philippine National Police (PNP) chief soon.
President Aquino has started to screen the contenders for the top police post as well as review the legalities on having only one four-star rank official in the hierarchy, according to Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas.
Roxas said the President interviewed PNP officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina and Chief of Directorial Staff Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo Jr., last Monday as possible replacement for resigned police chief Alan Purisima.
“He also asked for their records and he will make the decision at the proper time,” Roxas said in an interview with reporters after the assumption of new Special Action Force (SAF) commander Chief Superintendent Moro Virgilio Lazo in Camp Bagong Diwa.
The DILG secretary did not say if the President will still interview other candidates for the next PNP chief.
He admitted though the President is studying certain “legalities” in the appointment of a PNP chief since Purisima remains in active service and holds a four-star rank despite his resignation last month. Under the PNP hierarchy, there can only be one police official with a four-star rank.
“The position of chief PNP accompanies with it the four starts. Director General Purisima resigned as chief PNP but not at the PNP proper so his designation stays,” Roxas said.
Purisima, a close friend of the President, quit as police chief amid the backlash over his involvement in the bungled police operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao that left 44 policemen dead. He was earlier placed under preventive suspension by the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with a plunder complaint filed against him.
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