Duterte taps ex-general to ‘handle’ police
MANILA: President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte assigned a retired military general to “handle” the Philippine National Pollice (PNP) whose image has been battered by “rogue” policemen linked to illegal drugs, corruption and other high profile crimes.
Duterte announced his designation of Secretary Eduardo Ano of the Department of Interior and Local Government to fix the problems at the PNP in the remaining two years of his six-year term which is to end in 2022.
“In the provinces, the policemen are good. But in Manila? That’s why I didn’t appoint a PNP chief. I told Ano to handle it for now,” Duterte said in a mix of Filipino and English during his visit to North Cotabato province in Mindanao where he met and assisted victims of the recent earthquakes.
He added: “You (Ano) fix the police so that by the time, we make the exit two years from now, at least the problems of the Filipinos won’t be that serious. You’re dealing with government officials or officers who are into corruption, especially illegal drugs.” Duterte was referring particularly to “ninja” cops, meaning those linked to the recycling of huge amounts of illegal drugs like shabu (crystal meth) seized during police raids for resale to the public.
On Tuesday, Ano said he was ready to accept the assignment, explaining he would serve as
Duterte’s “alter ego” at the PNP if and when the president would later appoint a permanent chief for the 190,000-strong agency.
“I will do my job until the president chooses the next PNP chief,” Ano said. “I believe he has choices on his mind but he is closely watching these candidates particularly on the fight against illegal drugs and corruption.” As the Interior secretary, Ano, who retired ax the chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, has jurisdiction over the PNP as the National Police Commission (Napolcom) chairman.
Duterte also named Lieutenant General Archief Gamboa as the PNP officer in charge following the early retirement in late October of its chief general Oscar Albayalde for his alleged link to ninja cops when he was the police chief of Pampanga province in Central Luzon six years ago.
A no had recommended g am boa as al bay al de’ s successor along with the two other senior PNP officers — Lieutenant General Camilo Cascolan and Major General Guillermo Baltazar — but Duterte admitted he was having a difficult time in choosing a permanent police chief with an unblemished record In a recent television interview, the president pointed out he wanted a PNP chief with no links to corruption and that he would not also hesitate to appoint someone who could guarantee death to all drug lords.