PNP chief Bartolome to ‘float’ until retirement

Director General Nicanor Bartolome PHOTO MATIKAS SANTOS

VIENTIANE, Laos—Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome will likely go on non-duty status before the end of the year to allow for his early replacement and smooth preparations for the 2013 elections, according to President Aquino.

He will talk to Bartolome about turning over the PNP top post early, possibly by November or December, Mr. Aquino told Filipino reporters here.

He said that peace and order being of primary concern in the May 2013 elections, a transition in the PNP leadership in March—which is when Bartolome officially retires—would be too close to the election date, when the country will be in the thick of the election campaign.

“At a time when it’s most critical that the person directly in charge of the peace and order situation suddenly retires at the peak, that seems wrong. So I’ll discuss that with him. And he might go on what is called non-duty status,” Mr. Aquino said.

Full benefits

Even if Bartolome were to go on non-duty status, he would still get to retire on his actual 56th birthdate in March and receive full retirement benefits, the President said.

Mr. Aquino said that Bartolome also recognizes the fact that it would not do to have the PNP chief leave at a crucial time.

“You would want the person who will be in charge of monitoring and supervising the conduct of the PNP to have the chance to organize, to be able to put in place the necessary people to ensure that we have orderly and peaceful elections,” he said.

But at the same time, Mr. Aquino brought up the issue of the election ban on new appointments kicking in by February, hence the necessity of appointing Bartolome’s replacement earlier.

If Bartolome were to retire in March and the appointments ban would be in place by February, someone could raise the question of whether he could be replaced, and that would be an “unnecessary irritant,” he said.

Bartolome on Tuesday avoided the media following reports that the President wanted him to go on non-duty status to allow for an earlier change of command in the PNP.

The Inquirer tried to contact the PNP chief, but he did not return calls and text messages on his mobile phone.

PNP spokesperson Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr. said Bartolome attended a meeting of senior police officials in Camp Crame yesterday to discuss security preparations for the 2013 elections.

No problem

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, who presided at the closed-door meeting, also declined to be interviewed concerning Bartolome.

“I don’t think there’s a problem with the PNP chief (to retire early),” Cerbo told a news briefing.

He also expressed confidence that the PNP “will remain strong” should there be an early change in the leadership.

“Being an institution, the PNP does not revolve around personalities. We have a very strong organization—from the PNP command group, to the directorial staff and down the (police station) level,” Cerbo said.

“There may be different personalities who occupy the various positions in the PNP, but their functions remain the same. That’s why the PNP is ready for any eventuality,” he said.

Cerbo said the PNP has already started designing an overall security plan for next year’s elections.

Besides the review and validation of existing private armed groups, he said the police would check on politicians who are known to be maintaining armed security escorts and the political situation in areas previously identified as election hot spots.