Calderon: Lim has other choices for MPD chief

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Calderon said yesterday he will still try to convince Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, who opted to keep his city’s current police chief, that “there are other qualified officers to head the Manila’s Finest.”

Calderon said the PNP, through the Senior Officers Placement and Promotions Board (SOPPB) will submit to Lim five names of police officials as a possible replacement of acting MPD chief Senior Superintendent Danilo Abarzosa.

Lim and Calderon met yesterday at the radio station dzRH, which celebrated its 68th anniversary.

Lim maintained that he was impressed by the accomplishment of Abarzosa, who led three big anti-drug operations before Lim assumed office last June 30.

“Gen. Calderon said he will treat me to lunch, I am just reminding him in case he forgot,” Lim said during their interview.

Lim had to leave the radio station ahead of Calderon, who was asked about the implementation of the Human Security Act of 2007.

Calderon said the PNP is just following the procedure in giving Lim a list of candidates for the MPD post.

“We will still submit a list of nominees to Mayor Lim. Since he has been given a new mandate, it’s part of the procedure that we have to inform him that there are other officers qualified to the MPD post,” said Calderon.

Calderon was quick to clarify that Abarzosa, whom Lim said was “doing a good job,” is also an officer qualified to head the MPD, Malacañang’s first line of defense.

“But the clamor of the PNPA (Philippine National Police Academy) is to have a director who came from PNPA and Abarzosa is the most senior among PNPA graduates,” Calderon said.

Earlier, the PNP announced a reshuffle, including the replacement of Abarzosa by Southern Police District director Chief Superintendent Roberto Rosales. Lim opposed the reshuffle.

Calderon, however, admitted that Lim has the prerogative to keep Abarzosa in the MPD.

Among the PNP officials who were earlier named as Abarzosa’s possible replacement were Rosales and Senior Superintendents Leon Nilo dela Cruz and Luisito Palmera.

Due to the controversy generated by the aborted reshuffle, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno reminded the PNP to observe proper procedure in the transfer of assignments of its officials and personnel.

Puno, concurrent chairman of the National Police Commission, said PNP officials should strictly follow the procedures pertaining to the submission of assignment of PNP personnel to key provincial and district positions to the Napolcom before submitting the recommendation of proposed list of officers to local chief executives.

“The commission has noted that ignoring such measures, sometimes result in the designation of officers who do not meet the required qualifications provided under the law,” he said.