MANILA, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Debold Sinas said he is already satisfied with the length of his tenure as the country’s police chief, adding that the introduction of long-term programs is still possible even with a continuous leadership transition in the force.
During a Senate hearing on Thursday into the recent spate of killings in the country, Senator Richard Gordon told Sinas that he plans to file a bill seeking a fixed term of two years for PNP chiefs.
Sinas was appointed as PNP chief in November last year. He will retire in May 2021.
So far, there have been five PNP chiefs, including Sinas, in President Rodrigo Duterte’s five years in office.
“Would you favor a PNP [chief], two years? Would that be sufficient?” Gordon asked Sinas.
“Apat na buwan na lang [yung term mo] e dapat e you have to make your mark,” the senator added.
(You only have four months left; you have to make a mark.)
In response, Sinas said: “Salamat po, pero OK na po ako, sir, sa time ng pagserbisyo ko para po naman mapagbigyan naman po yung iba.”
(Thank you, but I’m already satisfied with how long my time as PNP chief is so that others would be given a chance.)
“What we could assure you po na yung [is that our] long term programs po namin ay hindi po namin pinabayaan po ‘yan [will not be neglected],” he added.
“We already institutionalized na maski sino po ang maging [that whoever is the next] chief PNP, as long as the policies are all set and laid out tuloy tuloy po ‘yan [it will continue],” he further said.
Gordon then asked whether the policy of the PNP to ensure that other police officers had a shot at the helm of the country’s police force is happening.
“In other words, ang policy ay pagbigyan naman natin yung kaklase natin? Yun ang nangyayari. Pagbigyan ang kaklase para walang maiiwan,” the senator said.
(In other words, the policy is to accommodate our classmates? That’s what’s happening. Let’s give a chance to others so that no one would be left out.)
He also stressed that to ensure long-term projects are done, PNP chiefs should have longer terms.
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Duterte’s first appointed PNP chief, stepped in and explained the point Sinas was attempting to make.
“Siguro ang gustong punto na i-drive ni Gen. Sinas is that it’s not how long you serve, but it is how you serve,” Dela Rosa said.
(I think the point Gen. Sinas is trying to drive at is that it’s not how long you serve but how you serve.)
Gordon then jested: “I don’t like to make any sexist statements here pero parang [but that’s akin to a] quickie, parang [it’s like a] quickie ‘yan a.”
Earlier, Gordon filed a bill aiming to bring the retirement age for military officers to 65 years of age, while providing generals with fixed terms to ensure the consistency of policies and programs.
READ: Gordon wants fixed terms, higher mandatory retirement age for AFP officials
Gordon earlier said he filed the measure to get military officials away from political patronage and political corruption, which would guarantee promotions and safeguard tenures.
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