Gamboa on lifestyle check challenge: It’s up to the President

MANILA, Philippines — It is up to President Rodrigo Duterte whether or not he will require candidates for the next Philippine National Police (PNP) chief to undergo a lifestyle check, the officer-in-charge of the 190,000-strong police force, Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa, said Wednesday.

“Remember there’s a vetting process of which is being undertaken by the Office of the President,” Gamboa said in an ambush interview with reporters at the PNP Headquarters in Quezon City.

“So whatever the suggestions of the public on how the president should choose the next chief PNP, I suggest we respect the President,” he added.

Even before being designated as PNP officer-in-charge, following the abrupt resignation of soon-to-retire PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde, Gamboa was being floated as among top contenders for the PNP leadership post. In fact, he is one of the three candidates endorsed by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to become the next PNP top boss.

The other two candidates endorsed by DILG to President Rodrigo Duterte were Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan and Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, who has just served as chief of the National Capital Region Police Office.

READ: Año endorses 3 names to Duterte for next PNP chief

Gamboa’s reaction came after a lawmaker challenged him, Cascolan, and Eleazar to undergo a lifestyle check, Radyo Inquirer reported.

READ: Mga kandidato sa pagka-Chief PNP himamong magpa lifestyle check

“From the very beginning, I told the public na gusto kong ihiwalay ‘yung pagiging kandidato ko and pagiging officer in charge,” he said about his position.

(From the very beginning, I told the public that I want to separate my being a candidate from being the officer in charge.)

Should it include lifestyle check or any other kind of vetting, Gamboa said he will “suggest and fully recommend” to leave it up to Duterte to decide since the President “is actually mandated by law to choose the next chief PNP.” /kga