Año to incoming PNP chief: Intensify fight vs drugs, crime, insurgency

FILE PHOTO: Interior Secretary Eduardo Año. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Eduardo Año has urged Lt. Gen. Dionardo Carlos to continue and intensify the police’s fight against illegal drugs, crime, and the communist armed insurgency, as he is set to take over as chief of the 220,000-strong Philippine National Police (PNP).

Año said on Wednesday, shortly after Carlos’ appointment was announced by Malacañang, that he expects the new PNP chief to hit the ground running, and set high standards from himself.

Carlos, who hails from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Maringal” Class of  1988, is currently the chief of PNP’s Directorial Staff.

“We expect the new PNP Chief to hit the ground running and intensify efforts to counter illegal drugs, fight criminality, and end the communist armed conflict in the country,” Año said in a statement.

“We expect that he will set the highest standards for himself and the rest of the PNP organization on their performance and discipline especially on the goal of cleansing the police organization, leaving no room for scalawags,” he added.

Año hopes that Carlos’ term would bring innovation and reform in the police service while performing its duties amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We look forward with optimism that his leadership will bring about innovation and reform in the police organization in the fulfillment of the PNP’s duty to serve and protect the people, especially during the COVID-19 public health emergency,” the cabinet official noted.

Carlos was named by President Rodrigo Duterte as the next PNP head in a document dated Wednesday, succeeding outgoing Gen. Guillermo Eleazar whose term marked an intensified cleanliness campaign within the police ranks.

READ: Ex-spokesman Carlos is next PNP chief 

He is the first PNP chief to have come from the Maringal class.

Absent any other circumstances, Carlos is expected to serve his term until May 8, 2022, or a day before the 2022 national elections on May 9.

Prior to his post as PNP Directorial Staff head, Carlos served as PNP Director for Integrated Police Operations in Visayas and in Southern Luzon, Commander of the Highway Patrol Group, head of the Directorate for Information and Communication Technology Management, and head of the Directorate for Police Community Relations.

He was also PNP’s spokesperson in 2017, aside from being the Regional Director of the Police Regional Office – 8 (PRO-8).

JPV