Abalos: Acorda good fit for PNP top post; solon hopes appointment non-regional
Maj. Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr., new PNP chief
MANILA, Philippines — The newly appointed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Maj. Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. is deemed fit for the job by Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. due to his extensive experience and integrity.
Abalos, in a statement on Monday, just after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. picked Acorda to replace Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., said that Acorda’s long history of service in the PNP prepared him for the top post.
“Naniniwala akong si Acorda ang nararapat na mamuno sa PNP dahil sa kanyang malawak na karanasan at integridad upang tuparin ang hamon ng pagiging isang Chief PNP,” Abalos said.
(I believe Acorda is fit to lead the PNP because of his vast experience and integrity to fulfill the challenges of being a Chief PNP.)
“Siya ay miyembro ng Philippine Military Academy ‘Sambisig’ Class of 1991 at naging pinuno ng Directorate for Intelligence ng PNP noong Agosto 2022, Palawan Police Provincial Office chief mula 2014 hanggang 2016, at nagsilbi bilang Regional Director ng Police Regional Office 10 ng Northern Mindanao,” he added.
(He is a member of the Philippine Military Academy ‘Sambisig’ Class of 1991 and was the Directorate for Intelligence of the PNP last August 2022, Palawan Police Provincial Office chief from 2014 up to 2016, and was also Regional Director of the Police Regional Office 10 of Northern Mindanao.)
Abalos also assured Acorda that the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) would continue supporting the police force, especially in enforcing its mandate and protecting the Filipino people.
“Sa bagong yugtong ito ng PNP sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni Acorda, patuloy ang suportang ibibigay ng DILG sa pagpapatupad ng napapanahong pagbabago sa kapulisan habang masigasig nitong tinutupad ang mandato nito na pangalagaan at proteksyunan ang ating mga kababayan,” he said.
(With this new chapter in the PNP under the leadership of Acorda, the DILG would continue supporting the implementation of programs and reforms within the police force while its mandate of caring for and protecting the Filipino people is being fulfilled.)
“Inaasahan ko rin po ang suporta, kooperasyon at pakikiisa ng buong puwersa ng PNP sa bagong liderato upang maayos niyang magampanan ang kanyang tungkulin at mandato bilang pinuno ng kapulisan,” he added.
(I expect the support, cooperation, and unity of the whole PNP force with this new command so that he can fulfill his duties and mandate as the new leader.)
During the turnover ceremony on Monday morning, Marcos appealed to police officers to help the new PNP chief while also vowing to extend the administration’s full support for its programs.
The Chief Executive also believes Acorda can calm the situation within the PNP, which was recently beleaguered due to accusations that high-ranking officials were trying to cover up an anti-drug operation where a decorated police officer was arrested.
READ: Marcos tells police force to support new PNP chief Acorda
READ: New top cop Acorda can ‘calm PNP situation’ — Bongbong Marcos
But while Abalos and Marcos are confident of Acorda’s capabilities, Alliance of Concerned Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro warned against “regionalistic patronage appointment.”
Acorda’s roots can be traced to La Union, which means he is a fellow Ilocano like Marcos, whose family hails from Ilocos Norte.
“I hope that this would not be another regionalistic patronage appointment as the dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. practiced as also with (former president) Rodrigo Duterte,” Castro said in a separate statement.
“Such an appointment creates more division and animosity among officers and often times result in squabblings in the ranks. This also leads to human rights violations to impress their commander in chief to get a better chance of being promoted,” she added. — With reports from Maria Liezl Projella, trainee
