Marquez named as new PNP chief

POLICE Director Ricardo Marquez, the head of the task force that secured Pope Francis in his January visit to the country, is the new chief of the Philippine National Police.

Formerly the head of the Directorate for Operations, Marquez will replace PNP officer in charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina as the leader of the 160,000-strong police force.

“”With all humility and full of gratitude to President Aquino and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, I am accepting the challenge to lead the 160,000 strong men and women of the PNP,”  Marquez said in a hastily called press briefing at Camp Crame on Tuesday.

Marquez learned of his appointment on Monday night when Roxas took him to Malacanang to meet with the President and Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa.

Marquez, a native of Maragondon, Cavite, will don the four-star rank of Director General when he formally assumes office as PNP chief during a change of command ceremony on Thursday.

Espina will turn over the leadership to Marquez on Thursday as the former receives retirement honors a few days before he turns 56 on July 19.

Espina assumed office as OIC in December when erstwhile PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima was suspended and dismissed over his alleged involvement in the P100-million questionable contract with a private gun courier service firm in 2011.

Marching orders

For seven months, the PNP had no permanent chief with Espina serving in acting capacity. “Napakaselan nitong position na ito, at isa sa mga pinaka mabigat na naiisip at kinonsidera ng Pangulo ay ayaw niya na matatapos ang term ng kung sino man ang itatalaga bago ang election. Gusto niya na itatawid na ‘yung election,” said Roxas.

One of the first orders of President Aquino, according to Roxas, to Marquez is to ensure credible elections.

Marquez said the PNP has been preparing for the elections next year. The PNP is now on the third preparatory meeting with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Commission on Elections, he added.

Marquez said while the PNP is “recovering and moving on from a difficult situation,” it would be the best time to focus on renewing the primary functions of police in preventing crime and maintaining peace and order.

The incoming PNP chief also vowed zero incidents during major international events including the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, which the country will host for the second time after 20 years.

The President also wanted Marquez to prioritize the cascading of “Operation Plan Lambat Sibat,” the PNP’s anti-crime strategy Roxas initiated, down to the regions. Since the implementation of Oplan Lambat-Sibat, crime statistics in Metro Manila decreased by more than 50 percent.

Aquino selected Marquez, a member of Philippine Military Academy class of 1982, among five contenders in the race for the post.

Other contenders for the post were Deputy Director General Danilo Constantino, chief of the directorial staff; Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo, deputy PNP chief for operations; dismissed Chief Superintendent Raul Petrasanta; Police Director Benjamin Magalong, Crime Investigation and Detection Group chief; and Police Director Juanito Vaño, directorate for logistics head.

BACKSTORY:  Who will get Aquino’s nod as new PNP chief?

Last June, Marquez and his fellow contender and classmate, General Constantino, were summoned by the President in Malacañang for a “casual meeting.”

Constantino said the President discussed with them their retirement dates. He said “maybe the President is checking whether our birthdays would go beyond the election period.”

This was also one of the rumored reasons why Garbo’s name was crossed off the list. Sources said Aquino wanted a PNP chief who will be serving until his six-year term in June 2016. Garbo will retire in March 2016.

Marquez, meanwhile, will retire from service on August 26, 2016.

Constantino earlier told reporters that during the meeting, Aquino asked them about their views on the deadly Mamasapano, Maguindanao operation and the “perceived factions existing in the PNP.

Pre-appointment controversies

Prior to his appointment, Marquez was linked to several issues, including the alleged missing allowance of policemen deployed during the visit of Pope Francis under his supervision as the task force head. Some officers claimed they did not receive in full their individual allowance of P2,400.

BACKSTORY: Did papal security get right amount of allowance? Espina orders probe

The two-star general led the Special Task Force “Papal Visit 2015,″ which had 25,000 policemen mobilized in areas the pontiff visited from January 15 to 19.

But in an earlier interview, Marquez denied any involvement in the disbursement of funds as these were directly distributed by the unit commanders to the police officers.

BACKSTORY: Funds for papal visit ops didn’t pass through my hands—Marquez

He said he cannot be held accountable for the missing allowance since he had no hand in the funds release.

Marquez was also rumored to have close ties with Purisima. Purisima is said to be behind Marquez’s endorsement for the top PNP post.

When asked about Purisima’s rumored endorsement, Marquez denied having knowledge about the talks as he was “very busy” with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation security operations.

Marquez also heads the National Joint Task Force for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation 2015 the Philippines is hosting.

He also prepared elaborate security plans for international events in the country including the World Economic Forum and the Asean Tourism Forum.

Before he became the PNP directorate for operations head, Marquez held significant positions as the regional director of Ilocos Region in 2013, executive officer of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management in 2011 and provincial director of Nueva Ecija in 2008. IDL/AC