New PNP chief is long overdue

President Aquino will hopefully name the new PNP chief soon with the expected retirement of the OIC, Deputy Director Leonardo Espina on July 19. It’s absolutely long overdue since it has already taken so long to appoint a new chief of the Philippine National Police. One can only conjecture that perhaps the president was hoping there was some way for resigned PNP chief General Alan Purisima to reassume his position, but that door has been permanently closed now that Ombudsman Chit Carpio Morales has let the axe fall by dismissing Purisima and 10 others over an anomalous deal with a courier company.

The need for a permanent head of the 150,000-strong police force has never been more evident. While we are concentrating on the modernization of our Armed Forces with the impending acquisition of additional C-130s, fighter jets, combat utility choppers and other hardware for our troops to achieve a “minimum credible defense posture” to protect our territories from foreign threats, there is also an urgent need to boost the capabilities of our police force to respond to internal security threats and maintain peace and order especially with the upcoming 2016 elections. Let’s not also forget, the Asia Pacific Economic Conference meetings this November will be a security nightmare in terms of securing the delegates for the many side meetings that would be held in various host cities. Intel reports have already warned of possible terror attacks.

The upcoming 2016 elections will absolutely be a major concern. We need a very competent police leadership in the PNP that would help them cope efficiently with explosive situations like what happened in Makati when angry supporters of Mayor Junjun Binay started becoming unruly, with many claiming they were unable to control their emotions after the police reportedly violated their freedom to express sympathy for their beleaguered mayor.

Already there are disturbing reports of an upsurge in kidnap-for-ransom and other crimes as the election season nears, saying this is part of the “fund raising activities” of certain politicians and other characters who want to throw their hat into the political ring. Just the other day, we received a text message from a concerned alumnus of La Salle warning everybody to keep their children under watch all the time. Apparently, a mother who was shopping at the Virra Mall in Greenhills made the mistake of turning her back for a few seconds – and panicked when she saw her child walking towards the exit, holding the hands of a stranger. She shouted his name but the boy didn’t seem to hear her – and that’s when the stranger started running away, leaving the boy in the middle of the mall. That this happened in broad daylight should tell you that criminal activities are on the rise.

Narco-trafficking continues to be a problem especially with the reported presence of Mexican and Sinaloan drug lords in the Philippines. According to PDEA chief Arturo Cacdac, they are collaborating with the police to apprehend high value targets. In almost every report filed by the US International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), a major factor in making it difficult to clamp down on the problem of narco-trafficking is our porous borders – making it easy for international drug cartels to conduct their smuggling activities.

It is so disturbing to note that more and more Filipinos are becoming drug dependents, with pushers now targeting even elementary school children – a potentially menacing socio-economic problem. Unfortunately, some members of the police force (even officials) are reportedly acting as protectors of drug pushers – if not the ones running the operations themselves. We can’t really blame people if they still have this notion about the police being “bantay salakay” (similar to a fox guarding the chicken coop) because of numerous reports about policemen being involved in crimes themselves – from murder to “hulidap” to petty mulcting or “kotong.” My sources at the PNP tell me that the morale within the organization is starting to deteriorate once again because of the continued delay in the appointment of a permanent PNP chief. As Senator Chiz Escudero pointed out, there are many police officials whose appointments as regional heads, police directors and other positions are left hanging because they are all in an “acting” capacity. This uncertainty is driving feelings of resentment among officials because of the possibility that they could be replaced anytime since their positions are not permanent, my source indicated.

Then there is also the “SAF 44” issue with many feeling that justice has yet to be served because until now, no one has been made accountable for the murder of the Special Action Force troopers who took part in the botched Mamasapano operations last January. The appointment of General Moro Lazo as SAF head was an excellent choice because they tell me he is a well-respected, true-blue SAF trooper. General Lazo has definitely restored pride, morale and dignity back to the Special Action Force.

I am sure this time, President Aquino will not make a mistake in choosing the right man to head the Philippine National Police. If what I am told is true that Police Director Ricardo Marquez is being considered for the job because of his integrity and competence — then certainly we support it 1000 percent. I don’t know General Marquez personally but my sources within the intelligence circle tell me he would be a perfect fit for the job because he is forward looking, aware that the police must be prepared to cope with changing times as seen for instance in his advocacy for web-based programs or “webinars” that are accessible to the police force.

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