President Rodrigo Duterte remained undecided about who should be his third Philippine National Police chief despite his confidence in the character of the officials recommended to him.
Speaking to Palace reporters Tuesday, Duterte said he has not yet chosen the next leader of the 40,000 strong police force who would pick officials in key positions.
The PNP is currently led only by an officer in charge, Lt. Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government has recommended the PNP’s top three officials as possible successors: Gamboa; Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan; and Major Gen. Guillermo Eleazar.
The first two belong to the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1986, while Eleazar belongs to the 1987 class.
“They’re all good. They’re soldiers. They came from the Academy. I have no doubt about their integrity but I am taking my time appointing one,” Duterte said.
Asked about what hinders him from appointing the new PNP chief, he said: “Because he would be appointing the heads of every department there especially the controller and the finance people.”
The PNP’s former chief, Gen. Oscar Albayalde quit his post over a drug-related scandal.
Allegations that he protected the so-called “ninja cops” he had worked with when he was Pampanga police chief in 2013 prompted Albayalde to relinquish his post and go into non-duty status last Oct. 14.
Albayalde quietly retired on Nov. 8, as he traded the traditional full-dress parade and review for a prayer service.
He faces a criminal complaint filed by the PNP itself over the “ninja cops” incident.