Carlos says no order yet to step down as PNP chief earlier than retirement date

MANILA, Philippines —  Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos has clarified that there has been no order for him to step down from his post earlier than expected, saying that he remains focused on their work.

“Nandito pa ako sir eh, ibig sabihin ‘magtrabaho ka pa Caloy.’  ‘Yon ang ano, ako trabaho lang ako, I make sure na I work up to the last day.  If the work is done and that sets everything,” Carlos said, when asked during PNP’s briefing if he was being asked to step down.

However, he clarified that if there would be an order from either President Rodrigo Duterte or Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to resign before his 56th birthday on May 8, or when he reaches the mandatory retirement age, he would follow such instructions.

“Well if there’s an order I will follow, so ako naman trabaho lang ‘yong hinanap ko.  So if the task is done, then I will retire come May 8, that is according to the law.  So I will follow ‘di ba,” Carlos said.

“So ‘yon lang naman ‘di ba, ako kasi naka-focus ako sa trabaho eh, so kaya nga sabi ko from the very start, all my preparations started in May 2021, when I was designated as the TCDS (The Chief of the Directorial Staff), I took the opportunity to prepare when in the past five months, ‘yon lang ang ginagawa ko eh,” he added.

Carlos also noted that the President has been happy with the performance of the PNP for the first quarter, or during a huge part of his term.

“Kung tutuusin, tignan niyo, in the first quarter of 2022, ang ganda ng performance ng Philippine National Police, if you go look at the accomplishment.  Because everybody was delivering their distinct contribution for the organization.  So mas naka-focus ako do’n sa trabaho,” he said.

“‘Yan, desisyon na ng mas nakaka-taas sa amin, if it is unofficial, then I follow the official order.  ‘Yon lang naman ‘yon eh, gano’n kami, sumusunod kami sa instruction ng Commander-in-Chief and ‘yong command line,” he added.

Carlos’ retirement date is an issue because it comes a day before the May 9 general elections, and PNP’s participation as a deputized agency by the Commission on Elections will be very crucial in ensuring peaceful polls.

Rumors said that Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, the PNP’s number two man right now, would be replacing Carlos.  This is not the first time that Sermonia’s name was floated during talks about the next PNP chief, as he was supposedly considered to replace retired Gen. Guillermo Eleazar.

Social media posts about Sermonia’s supposed appointment also surfaced, but the police official denied having a hand on the postings, adding that it is only meant to put malice on Duterte’s then-impending decision.

As of now, neither Duterte nor the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has spoken about whether Carlos’ term would be extended, or if he will step down earlier.

Carlos, who hails from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Maringal” Class of  1988, was assigned as PNP chief last November 10.  Prior to his post as PNP chief, Carlos was assigned as chief of the Directorial Staff, as spokesperson, head of the Aviation Security Group, and director of the  Directorate for Integrated Police Operations- Visayas.

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