PNP officers say Calderon ‘right man for the job’

After Malacañang made the announcement on the new chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), several police officers claimed it was no surprise that Deputy Director General Oscar Calderon would get the appointment as he was the "right man" for the job.

A majority of the ranking police officials conceded Calderon has the capability and credentials needed to lead the 118,000-strong national police force.

There were allegations that Calderon was a distant relative of President Arroyo but this issue was not taken into consideration.

Outgoing PNP chief Director General Arturo Lomibao cited Calderon’s sterling record in all his command, staff and training assignments.

"Calderon is a humble person, a low-key operator who always gets the job done, and a man of unsullied reputation who has never been involved in any controversy," Lomibao said.

The outgoing PNP chief urged all the officers and rank-and-file personnel to support Calderon to ensure continuity of command and effective management of the organization.

"Now that the President has appointed a new chief PNP, I expect everyone to support the new leadership and carry on with the finest tradition of service, honor and justice in the police service," Lomibao said.

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno said Calderon has earned the respect and admiration of his peers and subordinates.

"Calderon does his job without any fanfare but he does it well," he said.

Puno said Calderon’s impressive track record in his 33 years at the PNP includes his stint as head of the Police Anti-Crime Emergency Response (Pacer) team, which makes him highly qualified for the top PNP post.

Even opposition Sen. Panfilo Lacson, a former PNP chief himself, finds Calderon as a good choice because of his untainted personality.

"Maayos na opisyal si General Calderon kaya tingin ko ay deserving siyang maging CPNP (chief PNP),"

Lacson said that during his term as PNP chief under the aborted administration of former President Joseph Estrada, he knew Calderon as an upright and principled police officer.

Lacson said Calderon should prove his critics wrong on speculations that his appointment was a result of his "close ties" with the President. He lamented the appointment of Calderon was apparently tainted by politics despite his sterling performance record.

Other police officials like Superintendent Rolando Hinanay, acting comptrollership of the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) police force, said he knew Calderon as a police major from the defunct Criminal Investigation Service, now the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. (CIDG).

"General Calderon’s accomplishment won’t lie. It’s there for everyone to check and double check," he said.

Hinanay claimed working with Calderon until they were both transferred to different assignments.

"I first met him in 1990. I was a lieutenant and he was major and head of the CIS for operations. I learned a lot from him. Never had there been an instance that he dictated me to do something, he allowed everyone to improve," Hinanay said.

"With that kind of leadership and management style, people under him make sure to do his instruction. Not because of fear but of respect to him," he said.

Hinanay’s description of Calderon was shared by Senior Police Officer 3 (SPO3) Lilly Briones and non-uniformed personnel Angelica Gozum, who served as staff of Calderon at the Directorate for Comptrollership and as Central Luzon police director.

"Oh wala munang date ha, marami trabaho," Gozum quoted Calderon as saying whenever they have a lot to work to do.

Superintendent Prudencio Tom Bañas of Pacer has also a lot of good words for the incoming PNP chief.

Calderon headed the Pacer for over a year and a half in concurrent capacity as deputy chief for administration (DCA) prior to his new appointment as PNP chief.

"A humble person, an understanding and approachable superior. And he will never take the credit for somebody else’s accomplishment," Bañas said.

With Calderon as PNP chief, all conceded the "PNP is in good hands."

Calderon, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class ’73, has been credited for neutralizing the most notorious organized crime groups engaged in kidnapping and high-profile crime activities.

Following his graduation from the PMA, Calderon served a series of assignments as company commander to five Philippine Constabulary and Combat Support Companies in Mindanao, among them the 453rd PC Company in South Cotabato that was awarded as the PC Company of the Year in 1991.

Calderon has earned to his credit 18 military and police awards including a Bronze Cross Medal for bravery for leading a daring rescue operation and encounter with a kidnap-for-ransom group in Cebu City, and nine Military Merit Medals in recognition of his accomplishments in the field.

He also served as district commander to four CIS District Offices in Visayas and Luzon; as Provincial Director for Eastern Samar and Laguna; and as director of the Davao Metropolitan District Command.

Calderon received the highly coveted Senior Field Officer of the Year award in 1993 as police provincial director of Eastern Samar.

He became PNP Central Luzon Regional Director with his unit adjudged as Police Regional Office of the Year in 2002. He also served as police director of the Calabarzon region.

The 15,000-strong National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) threw its full support behind Calderon.

"The entire Metro Manila police fully supports Gen. Calderon as the new CPNP," NCRPO chief Director Vidal Querol declared.

Senior Superintendent Elmer Jamias, provincial police director of the Ifugao province, said his command is supporting the appointment of Calderon. — With Christina Mendez, Non Alquitran, Nestor Etolle, Manny Galvez