In preparation for the stepping down of the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Archie Gamboa, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año submitted three names to President Duterte as his recommendation.
Gamboa is set to retire on Sept. 3 as he turns 56 — the mandatory age of retirement for uniformed personnel.
Año refused to give their names, even ranks, unlike his previous endorsement to President Duterte,
“I submitted three names to the President,” Año told CNN Philippines in a text message. “I cannot reveal the names and ranks. The President may choose from the list or he has also the discretion to appoint anyone from all the generals of the PNP.”
Based on rules, the President, upon the recommendation of the NAPOLCOM, may choose among the roster of “the most senior and qualified officers in the service.”
This means police officers with at least one star rank may be chosen as PNP chief.
Currently, the most senior officers in the PNP are:
Deputy Chief for Administration PLtGen. Camilo Cascolan, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) ‘Sinagtala’ Class of 1986. Gamboa, and former PNP chiefs Dela Rosa and Oscar Albayalde are also from this class. Cascolan is set to retire in November.
Deputy Chief for Operations PLtGen. Guillermo Eleazar who’s from PMA ‘Hinirang’ Class of 1987. Eleazar will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 in November 2021.
Directorial Staff Chief PLtGen. Cesar Hawthorne Binag, also from PMA Class ’87. He is expected to serve the PNP until April 2021.
Despite his endorsement, Año floated the possibility of term extension for outgoing PNP Chief Gamboa.
“It’s also a possibility or an option of the President considering we are under a pandemic,” he said. “Again, its in the hands of the President.”
Gamboa declined to comment when asked about his possible successor early this month.
