Año hopes next admin, successor keep PNP initiatives going
MANILA, Philippines — Outgoing Interior Secretary Eduardo Año hopes that the next administration will continue the programs they have started within the Philippine National Police (PNP), saying he is optimistic that the incoming government can sustain their successes.
In a speech delivered during Monday’s flag-raising ceremony at Camp Crame, Quezon City, Año said that he was aware of the projects that will be among the priorities of President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s administration.
Despite that, he said that continuity over the supposed gains earned in the six years under President Rodrigo Duterte would be a plus.
“Sa pagpapalit ng liderato, batid kong may mga prayoridad na isusulong at kailangang unang itaguyod ng mga uupo. Ngunit hiling ko na sana hindi iyun ang magiging hudyat na iwanan ang mga nasimulan ng administrasyong ito,” Año said during the program which was attended by PNP’s high-ranking officials.
(With the change of leadership, I know that it is the priority of the next officials to push for their own programs and priority projects. But I would just like to hope that it would not be the start of leaving the gains made by this administration.)
“Bagkus, sana ipagpatuloy ninyo ang anumang pinagsikapan nating abutin at patuloy na ipakitang karapat-dapat silang mapalawak at mapalawig pa sa mga susunod na taon. Towards that, I am confident that the current, future leaders of PNP will go great lengths in sustaining what we have achieved thus far,” he added.
(Instead, we hope that you will continue whatever we started and continue to show that the scope of these projects should be widened and increased in the coming years.)
Año also urged police to help and be open to implementing the programs that would be laid out by Marcos Jr. and his Interior secretary-designate, former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) head Benhur Abalos.
READ: Formal meetings between Año, Abalos to begin in second week of June
“Maging bukas pa rin tayo sa mga programa at pagbabagong ilalatag ng pamunuan ni President-elect Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos at ang kanyang itinalagang Kalihim, Benhur Abalos. Hangad ko rin na maipakita at maipagkaloob ninyo sa kanila ang parehong respeto at suportang inialay ninyo sa aking pagkakaupo,” Año noted.
(Let us be open to the programs and changes that would be initiated by the administration of President-elect Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos and his secretary-designate Benhur Abalos. Please show the same respect and support you had given me when I was DILG chief.)
“In return, I am very optimistic that the incoming administration will also channel their backing and commitment to continually steer our beloved Philippines into safer, more peaceful and more progressive horizons,” he added.
Año has been a mainstay in outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet, holding offices in the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) since 2017. Eventually, he was appointed DILG secretary in November 2018.
During the same speech, the Interior secretary thanked fallen police officers for serving the people even in exchange for their lives, saying that it is proof that the PNP is sincere in carrying out its mandate.
Año said that at least 435 police officers died in the line of service under Duterte’s term — including 56 due to the war against illegal drugs, 160 in anti-crime campaigns, 91 in counter-insurgency operations, and 128 during the COVID-19 response.
