Belmonte: Mayors have authority to choose chief of police

MANILA, Philippines - Amid reports of alleged “horse-trading” for the replacement of the retiring chief of the local police, Quezon City Mayor Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte yesterday urged the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police leadership, to observe the required consultation with him in naming the new Quezon City Police District director.

Belmonte, who is running for Congress in the Fourth District of Quezon City under the Liberal Party, stressed the need to comply with the law requiring his approval in naming the replacement of QCPD director Chief Superintendent Elmo San Diego who is retiring on May 11.

According to Belmonte, RA No. 6975, or the PNP law, provides that city and municipal mayors have the authority to choose the chief of police from a list of five eligibles recommended by the provincial police director, preferably from the same province, city or municipality.

Belmonte issued the call amid reports of alleged “horse-trading” by parties close to mayoralty candidate Mike Defensor among those who want to replace San Diego. “Underhanded politics should not prevail over the rules requiring the incumbent mayor’s concurrence in the appointment of a new police district head. We must follow the law to ensure a clean and honest election that everyone will accept and respect,” Belmonte said in a statement.

“Why change horses mid-stream? Why effect a changing of the guard at the crucial time of the election in the capital city of the Philippines? You can count on Chief Superintendent San Diego to make this election the most peaceful and orderly because overseeing this election is his crowning glory,” Belmonte said.

The Quezon City mayor also warned the DILG and the PNP leadership that they would be violating election laws if they push through with assigning San Diego’s replacement without the approval from the Commission on Elections.

The Comelec in Resolution No. 8737 issued in December said the Omnibus Election Code states as a prohibited act the appointment, transfer or detail whatsoever of any officer or employee in the civil service during the election period from Jan. 10, 2010 to June 9, 2010 except upon prior written authority of the Comelec.

Belmonte also said that officials and personnel at the QCPD want San Diego to be allowed to serve as their director until he retires on May 11. San Diego has led the QCPD’s 2,364-strong uniformed personnel to win the Philippine National Police’s best NCR police district award for the fourth straight year.

San Diego is a member of Philippine National Police Academy Class 1981. His career started in 1974 as a   civilian clerk at the Quezon City Police Department. After two years he became a patrolman until he entered the PNPA.