Senior police officials begin campaign for top PNP post

The race is on for contenders for the top post of the Philippine National Police (PNP) as police chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. reaches the one-year deadline set by President Arroyo for him to neutralize kidnap-for-ransom syndicates.

While Mrs. Arroyo was on a state visit to South Korea and Japan last week, her top police officers were busy gaining public attention on the PNP’s peace and order campaign and anti-drug programs.

All three top contenders, Deputy Director Generals Edgar Aglipay, Virtus Gil and Reynaldo Velasco, PNP’s deputy chief for administration, operations and National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director, respectively, made their respective publicity stunts.

While Aglipay issued a warning Thursday to all 114,000 police personnel that they could be relieved once found positive for drugs, Velasco, not to be outdone, led his officers and men to the PNP Crime Laboratory for drug testing.

Gil, for his part, embarked on a public speaking campaign in the countryside discussing how to further the peace and order situation.

Police sources disclosed all three police officers even tried to secure the support of religious groups, including El Shaddai and Iglesia ni Cristo.

"These (religious groups) are very influential lobbying blocks. Even politicians seek their endorsement. It is the same with the Catholic Church," said a ranking police official who requested anonymity.

Other sources said one of the three-star police generals got the support of a former president, while the other got the backing of a Cabinet official who was a key player during the EDSA II revolution that propelled Mrs. Arroyo to the presidency in January 2001.

Velasco, for his part, said it is up to Mrs. Arroyo to designate the next PNP chief.

"In the end, it is the President’s call," Velasco said during a recent fellowship meeting with a group of journalists at a hotel in Pasay City.

On the other hand, Gil has been open in his ambition for the top post. He said every police officer’s dream is to become PNP chief.

"I would be a hypocrite if I say I will not accept it," Gil was quoted as saying.

Velasco, Aglipay and Gil are all "mistahs" of former PNP chief, now opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1971.

Earlier, Mrs. Arroyo gave Ebdane a one-year deadline to eradicate or neutralize kidnap-for-ransom activities, a primary concern of business and anti-crime watch groups.