Calderon wants Razon as next PNP chief

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Calderon wants the police force’s second-in-command, Deputy Director General Avelino Razon Jr., to be his successor when he retires in October upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.

“We (in the PNP) are comfortable with Gen. Razon,” Calderon said. “As far as I am concerned, it’s Gen. Razon (as the next PNP chief). The most logical choice is Gen. Razon, who is a member of (Philippine Military Academy or PMA) Class 74.”

Calderon is a member of PMA Class 73 and Razon’s senior in the academy.

Calderon, who still has nearly two months in office before his retirement, admitted that there were some police officials trying to lobby and get President Arroyo’s nod to become the next PNP chief.

“I heard about it (lobbying by a few police officials), let them do their work. But we will support whoever is the choice of President Arroyo. We don’t want to pre-empt the decision of the President,” he said.

Even Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno has indicated that Razon is his choice to replace Calderon.

“When Gen. Razon is appointed, the deputy will be removed from his rank,” Puno said. This would make Razon a four-star general, a rank held by Calderon.

Puno has also offered Calderon an undersecretary post at the DILG once the PNP chief retires from police service.

“We are happy to have Gen. Calderon as one of our undersecretaries here at the DILG,” said Puno, who vouched for the qualification of Calderon to any post in the government.

Calderon thanked Puno for the “trust and confidence” given him. It was gathered that Puno gave his all-out support to Calderon when Mrs. Arroyo chose him to be the PNP chief last July 2006.

“It’s been an honor and a pleasure to work with Sec. Puno. I thank him for the trust and confidence he has given me. I am willing to serve as part of the official family of President Arroyo on whatever capacity I can,” Calderon told The STAR.

Calderon has a good report card for the first year of his term, with a significant decrease in all forms of crime, ranging from kidnapping, street crimes and bank robberies.