Gamboa clinches top PNP post
You showed your sincerity and I like to leave something in that you will be remembered by the country
President Rodrigo Duterte has designated Police Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa as the new Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.
In a speech he delivered during the thanksgiving gathering with The Fraternal Order of the Eagles (TFOE) at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City on Friday night, President Duterte said that he is appointing Gamboa, who was the PNP
officer-in-charge, to permanently lead the 185,000-strong police force for showing his sincerity as a police officer.
Gamboa is a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of “Sinagtala” Class of 1986. He will be the 23rd PNP chief.
The President said that he, Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año and Gamboa will have a long talk first before formalizing the latter’s appointment.
“We have the PNP chief. I’m going to appoint you as the regular PNP... But you, Secretary Año and I will have a long talk first, “President Duterte said
“You showed your sincerity and I like to leave something in that you will be remembered by the country,” he expressed.
The Chief Executive’s pronouncement ends more than two months of speculation on who he will appoint as the new PNP chief following the retirement of former PNP chief Oscar Albayalde from the police service in November 2019.
President Duterte previously stated that he will not appoint a new PNP chief unless the problems facing the police organization is fixed.
Gordon wants more vs Albayalde
Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Sen. Richard Gordon wants heavier charges against former PNP chief Oscar Albayalde, including violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act or Republic Act (RA) 9165.
This, after the Department of Justice (DoJ) on Thursday bared that government prosecutors found probable cause to indict Albayalde for graft in connection with the anomalous 2013 drug raid in Pampanga.
“While we welcome the decisiveness of the secretary of justice, we, however, question the very light charges in the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,” Gordon said in a broadcast interview.
“This could only mean he gets off lightly if he cannot get off (totally) at all,” he added.
As chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee and the Committee on Justice and Human Rights, Gordon presided over the hearings that linked Albayalde to the so-called “ninja cops” composed of his former subordinates at the Pampanga Provincial Police Office (PPO).
“This is the first time that the chief of PNP has been thoroughly investigated by the Senate and the investigation was quite thorough in the sense that we were able to prove that Albayalde knew about the operation as of 2013. And therefore, he cannot be seen as having known about it (only) afterward,” Gordon pointed out.
Standing by the Blue Ribbon Committee recommendations, Gordon believed Albayalde should also be charged with violation of provisions under RA 9165 for conspiring with his subordinates.
“It goes without asking that ‘will the people be satisfied with this very minor offense that is being charged against Albayalde?’ You know, it sounds like they are trying to give him a free pass,” Gordon stressed.
“I think he should be given a heavier charge. He should be charged, at the very least, with conspiracy with all his people and that other charges should be heard against him under the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Law and most importantly the Dangerous Drugs Law,” he added.
Aside from violations of the anti-graft law and the comprehensive dangerous drugs law, the Senate panel also recommended the prosecution of offenses, negligence and tolerance against Albayalde for violation of Article 208 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC).
“The point was, he knew about it and then when it blew up he didn’t do anything. His silence is deafening, there were no actions coming from him. In fact, what he did was he recommended medals for them, including himself,” Gordon insisted.
Strong warning
Meanwhile, Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said that charging Albayalde is another strong indication that the government is dead serious about its anti-drug campaign.
“The filing of graft charges against Albayalde and 12 others mean primarily two things. One, the government gives every Filipino citizen the opportunity to defend himself in a court of law. After all, one is presumed innocent unless proven guilty,” he said in a statement.
“Two, this filing of cases sends a very strong message to everyone, including those personnel entrusted to implement the law, that we are serious in this relentless war against illegal drugs and we will not backtrack in this campaign,” he added.
Go reminds the PNP that the trust given to them by the government comes with a huge responsibility.
“This is part of their duty to restore the integrity of the institution and fulfill their mandate to serve and protect the Filipino people,” Go said.