Ebdane to keep post until November

Philippine National Police chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. marked his first year as the country’s police chief without fanfare yesterday, though his office cited gains in the government’s campaign against crime.

Sources said Ebdane’s first anniversary as PNP chief was just an ordinary working day for him as he attended to his daily duties and official concerns as the nation’s top policeman.

The sources said Ebdane will remain in his post until November, or once it becomes certain that Mrs. Arroyo will not seek the presidency in 2004.

"The President does not want to rock the boat at this moment," a ranking official said. "Everything seems to prefer the status quo on the issue (of who will get) the top PNP post."

All contenders for the helm of the PNP kept their silence on the issue, seemingly awaiting formal announcements from Malacañang regarding the one-year deadline President Arroyo set for Ebdane to neutralize all kidnap for ransom gangs, which ended yesterday.

Top contenders for the top PNP post are deputy chief for administration Deputy Director General Edgardo Aglipay, Metro Manila police chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco and deputy chief for operations Deputy Director General Virtus Gil.

Aglipay, Velasco and Gil have not been aggressive in their media blitz lately, said Camp Crame observers who also noted that Aglipay remained focused on his job as commander of the PNP task force on illegal drugs.

Sources said the contenders for the PNP helm have been testing the waters until such time the President gives assurances that Ebdane’s term will be extended.

A news release from the the PNP Public Information Office (PIO) headed by Senior Superintendent Leopoldo Bataoil Jr. cited the PNP’s gains in the war against crime under Ebdane’s leadership.

Exactly one year after Ebdane was sworn into office, only five kidnap gangs remain in "limited operation" since the PNP launched a nationwide campaign against 20 active kidnapping syndicates on its list.

Ebdane said a total of 117 kidnap suspects have been neutralized since he took the post of PNP chief. At least 30 suspected kidnappers have been killed, 78 others were put behind bars and nine suspects surrendered to the police.

"The PNP managed to completely neutralize nine kidnap for ransom groups and render inactive six other gangs due to the arrest of key (gang) members," the statement said.

From January to June this year, kidnapping cases dropped by 10 percent, compared with the number of kidnappings recorded during the same period last year.

The PNP’s "solution efficiency" — ability to solve kidnapping cases — also improved from 71 percent to 74 percent this year.

The PNP said index cases dropped by six percent, while non-index crimes decreased by two percent during the first half of the year. Total crime volume is four percent lower this year than in 2002.

According to the PNP, there was a benchmark decrease in homicides by 15 percent and an eight percent decrease in physical injury cases, which they highlighted among the major gains of the PNP in keeping the crime trend within minimal levels.

The relentless efforts of the PNP against organized crime groups have resulted in a 14 percent decrease in bank robberies while street crimes decreased by 20 percent.

Ebdane said the PNP is better now, as indicated by the feedback from the public.