Sun.Star Cebu

5 OFFICIALS VIE FOR DE LA ROSA’S POST

PNP chief says he doesn’t want to give President his personal choice, saying he wouldn’t want to be blamed if his bet doesn’t perform well

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Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald Dela Rosa named last Saturday five police officials who may replace him in case his extended service ends on April.

They are Police Deputy Director General Ramon Apolinario, the current number two man at the PNP: Police Deputy Director General Archie Gamboa, the current third to the highest police official; Deputy Chief for Operations-Police Deputy Director General Fernando Mendez; Director for Operations Camilo Cascolan; and National Capital Region Police Office Director Oscar Albayalde.

Dela Rosa, however, said he is yet to recommend to President Rodrigo Duterte a successor.

The President has the last say on who would replace the PNP director.

De la Rosa said he can recommend any star-rank police official to Duterte.

“Pag nag-usap kami ni Presidente, lahat ‘yan ng mga threestar, lahat ng mga two-star, lahat ng one-star, they are all capable of becoming the chief PNP, they’re eligible. Pero kung personal mag-endorse ako ng pangalan sa kanya, tinatanong niya ko pero wala pa akong masabi sa kanya (They are all capable. But the President asked for my personal bet, I couldn’t give him a name),” Dela Rosa said.

“Maniguro din ako dahil sabihin mo na kahit mistah mo yung i-endorso mo, mamaya magkamali ka pagdating don, papalpak ‘yan doon sa taas, ‘pag siya na nakapwesto, ako sisishin ni Presidente (I don’t want to be blamed if the one I recommende­d fails),” he said.

Duterte had already chosen Apolinario to replace dela Rosa, who was supposed to retire last Jan. 21 but was ordered to extend his police service “as they still have a lot to address particular­ly in the government’s war on drugs.”

Earlier, dela Rosa said he wanted his retirement in order to rest and have some time with his family and to live a normal life again. But he said he cannot refuse Duterte’s order.

“Sasabihin ni Presidente, porket napagbigya­n na kita, ginawa na kitang chief PNP, buong pagkapulis mo, I have been by your side, I have been at your back, I have been supporting you, ngayong patapos ka na, gusto mo na kaagad mag-relax, iiwan mo na ako dito, ayaw mo na akong tulungan. That’s so inggrato of me, ‘pag gagawin ko ‘yan (The President have been supporting me all these years. I don’t want him to think that I’m leaving him just like that because my term is over,” he said.

Dela Rosa said he knows that several police officers are “excited” for his retirement although he refused to name who they are.

“Well, everybody wants to be at the top, that’s a fact of life. Lahat ‘yan gusto umakyat sa taas. So naramdaman ko, hindi naman ako manhid na hindi ko nararamdam­an,” Dela Rosa said. /

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