MANILA, Philippines — The search for the “perfect honest man” to lead the the 190,000-strong Philippine National Police (PNP) chief is still on, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go said on Monday.
“Wala pa po. As of last night, magkasama po kami ng Pangulo, wala pa po syang napipisil (No one has been chosen yet. As of last night, I was with the President, he has not chosen anyone yet),” Go, President Rodrigo Duterte’s longtime aide, said in an interview at the Senate.
“Siguro talagang hirap na hirap ang ating Pangulong Duterte. Totoo yung sinabi ni Pangulo. naghahanap sya ng honest na magiging chief PNP (Maybe President Duterte si really having a hard time. He’s really looking for an honest PNP chief).”
“Yung hinahanap nya na honest ay still searching pa po si Pangulong Duterte…Hirap na hirap syang hanapin yung perfect na honest man na hinahanap nya,” (President Duterte is stills searching for an honest man. He’s really having a hard time looking for that perfect honest man),”he added.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año has already submitted the names of three police officials who will be the next PNP chief.
The three contenders are PNP officer-in-charge Lieutenant General Archie Francisco Gamboa, deputy chief for operations Lieutenant General Camilo Cascolan, and Chief of the Directorial Staff Major General Guillermo Eleazar.
But Go said Duterte’s , choices are not limited to the three.
The President, he said, has the prerogative to choose among the one-star rank generals in the PNP.
“Ibig sabihin ay posibleng lumabas dyan sa tatlo ang kanyang pipiliin (That means, he may choose outside the three contenders),” said Go. /gsg