Ally to PNoy: Appoint new PNP chief now

MANILA, Philippines - A member of the administration party has called on President Benigno Aquino III to immediately appoint a new Philippine National Police (PNP) chief to fully restore order, discipline and the chain of command of the 149,000-strong police force. 

 

Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo, a Liberal Party member, said whoever the president appoints will need at least six months to smoothly lead the PNP. 

 

"Malacañang has to appoint a new PNP chief at once, considering that the next presidential election is just 15 months away, and whoever is named may need at least six months to get accustomed to the job," Romulo said in a statement. 

 

Romulo was reacting to news reports that indicated at least seven senior officers are being considered to replace resigned PNP Director General Alan Purisima.

 

Purisima stepped down from his post  amid the controversial Mamasapano encounter that led to the deaths of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos on January 25.

 

Reports said that the seven potential candidates are officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina,  Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo Jr., and Directors Carmelo Valmoria, Ricardo Marquez, Benjamin Magalong, Danny Constantino and Juanito Vaño.

 

Earlier, the president said he intends to sit down with Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas II to select the new chief of the PNP, which has been temporarily filled in by Espina as officer-in-charge since December.

 

Both Espina and Roxas were kept out of the loop by Purisima in the Mamasapano operation.