MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa on Thursday said he does not see any problem in the delay of designating a new PNP chief, for as long as the police force is operating properly.
“Let’s view it dito sa pag function at pagpatakbo ng PNP, pag tumatakbo naman siya at nae—execute naman ang functions properly, then I don’t see any problem kung merong ganun na hindi pa siya nagpa-pa-pangalan ng PNP chief,” Gamboa said during a press conference at Camp Crame on Thursday.
(Let’s view it on the functions and operations of PNP, if the functions are being executed properly, then I don’t see any problem that on the delay of naming the next PNP chief)
Before the year-end, President Rodrigo Duterte had ordered Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to lead and fix the PNP while he is still deciding on should be the next PNP chief who will replace former PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde.
Gamboa was appointed as officer-in-charge of the PNP after Albayalde stepped down over alleged involvement in the controversial November 2013 Pampanga drug bust.
The last police official who served as the PNP’s officer-in-charge was Lt. Gen. Leonardo Espina. He took over the police force in 2014 after former PNP chief Gen. Alan Purisima faced preventive suspension over a suspected dubious contract.
‘Just a reiteration’
Gamboa also explained that when he assumed his post, all his actions are subjected for review by the National Police Commission (Napolcom), which is being chaired by Año.
“It is just a reiteration when I assumed office on October 14 or October 16, part of [my] authority is the review powers of the Napolcom. Meaning to say, all my actions are subject for review by the Napolcom,” he said.
“So nilatag ko ’yung pwede ko i-exercise, pwede ko i-review [So I sent them what I can order and review], and if Napolcom will see that it is not in consonance with the authority they have given and is in excess of the authority they have given, they can always revoke it,” he added.
Gamboa noted that Napolcom is also authorized to study his proposal for a reshuffling of posts in the police force.
Gamboa said Napolcom allowed him to have the power to appoint police lieutenant colonels and “to sit down in an observer status to actively participate in resolutions that the PNP has proposed to the commission for its reenactment for a better and efficient service.”
He also assured the public that procurement in PNP is not affected as he also has the authority to “sign contracts and act as the head of procurement authority.”