MANILA, Philippines - Retiring Philippine National Police chief Director General Raul Bacalzo's advise to his successor: Follow the straight, narrow path. During a media briefing this morning, the outgoing PNP head said this is the only rule that his successor should follow while sitting on the post. "The road to reform is very narrow pero hindi tayo magkakamali if we take this path," Bacalzo said. He added that whoever will succeed him in the position as top cop should never stop implementing reforms in the PNP and iron out the kinks in the organization to improve it. "Let's do things properly. Ipagpatuloy natin ang reporma kasi cycle lang naman ito," Bacalzo said.
Bacalzo is set to retire on his 56th birthday on September 9. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said yesterday that President Benigno Aquino III already has in his possession a shortlist of candidates for the PNP chief post. Abigail, however, said that President Aquino has not mentioned to his staff who he feels should replace Bacalzo. There are persistent reports that Director Nicanor Bartolome, currently the PNP's chief of the Directorial Staff, will replace Bacalzo. Bartolome's former position was director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO). There are reports that Bartolome had already been chosen by President Aquino for the PNP chief position even before he left the NCRPO.