Duterte orders Año to handle PNP until 2022

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to handle the Philippine National Police until 2022, or when both of them step down from their posts.

In a speech during a visit to earthquake victims in M’lang, North Cotabato, the President said he wanted Año, the former chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, to “fix” the PNP.

“In the provinces, the police are excellent. But in Manila? That’s why I didn’t appoint a PNP [chief]. I told Gen. Año to handle it for now,” Mr. Duterte said on Monday.

“You fix the police, so by the time that we make the exit two years from now, at least the Filipinos’ problems are not as burdensome,” he said.

The PNP has been without a top cop since the resignation of ex-PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde last Oct. 14, amid allegations that he intervened for his subordinates accused of drug recycling.

Since then, the 190,000-strong police force has been temporarily led by Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa in an officer in charge capacity. As secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Año has jurisdiction over the PNP. —Julie M. Aurelio