DILG chief OKs additional powers for interim PNP chief

MANILA, Philippines — With some persuasion from Senator Panfilo Lacson, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año agreed to give additional powers to Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge (OIC) Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa.

“Right now, PNP is without a chief PNP and there’s only an OIC…kung OIC lang he does not have the full powers at saka yung authority ng full chief PNP. Iba e, kasi OIC lang (and the full authority of a PNP chief. It’s different, he’s only the OIC),” Lacson pointed out during the plenary deliberation on the proposed 2020 budget of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday.

Lacson also asked about the extent of Gamboa’s authority as OIC of the PNP.

Año, through Senator Sonny Angara, said that Gamboa does not have the power to appoint second-level officers and the power to sit as an ex-officio commissioner in the National Police Commission (Napolcom).

“As observer lang (only) but not a full-fledged member the board,” Angara added.

Reacting to this, Lacson said: “Kasi National Police Commission na wala namang police…but I think there could be a way for Napolcom to more or less do something about this.”

(Because it’s the National Police Commission yet there’s no police…but I think there could be a way for Napolcom to more or less do something about this).

Lacson then called on Año, chairman of Napolcom, to issue a resolution that would grant Gamboa “other powers that he does not enjoy as OIC.”

“Meaning kung pwedeng merong Napolcom resolution to allow him to sit as an ex-officio member with voting rights. Kasi kung observer lang, wala siyang magawa dun,” he said.

(Meaning if there could be Napolcom resolution that would allow him to sit as an ex-officio member with voting rights. Because he’s only an observer, he can’t do anything there).

“Pwede ring siguro magkaron ng Napolcom resolution to allow him to appoint  PNP personnel,” he added.

(Maybe there can also be a Napolcom resolution to allow him to appoint PNP personnel).

“Yung dalawang authority na ‘yun pwedeng i-grant sa OIC, kasi we don’t know when the President will appoint and ang question ko, how would this affect the overall efficiency of the PNP as an organization, merong epekto ‘di ba?” he further said.

(The authority can be granted to the OIC, because we don’t know when the President will appoint and my question is, how would this affect the overall efficiency of the PNP as an organization.  There’s an effect, right?).

“First sa discipline, because if the OIC is not fully empowered to exercise these authorities. Imagine hindi ka makapag-appoint man lang…no matter how good the performance of your personnel, you cannot even show incentive or grant some incentive para lalong ma-motivate,” he added.

(First is discipline, because if the OIC is not fully empowered to exercise these authorities. Imagine you cannot appoint…no matter how good the performance of your personnel, you cannot even grant incentives to motivate people).

Angara, who is defending the budget of the DILG, said Año agreed to issue the said resolutions.

Gamboa was appointed OIC of the PNP last October 14 after Gen. Oscar Albayalde stepped down amid the so-called ninja cops and drug recycling controversy.

President Rodrigo Duterte has yet to appoint a PNP chief.

The chief executive was supposed to name the next top cop before or on Albayalde’s retirement but according to his closest aide, Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, the President is still weighing his choices.

 GSG