PMA classes ’85, ’86 deny protest vs Ochoa as next DILG chief

Chief Supt. Edgardo Tinio of PMA class of ’85 and Senior Supt. Ronaldo dela Rosa of PMA class of ’86 refute reports that some of their batchmates are opposing Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr.’s purported appointment as DILG secretary. JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS/INQUIRER.net

The Philippine Military Academy classes of 1985 and 1986 refuted on Tuesday media reports claiming that some of their members are protesting the purported appointment of Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. as the next Department of Interior and Local Government secretary.

Presidents of PMA “Sandiwa” class of ’85 and “Sinagtala” class of ’86 spoke to the media to dismiss a report that came out on Monday citing some PMA men grumbling over Ochoa’s supposed appointment as DILG chief replacing secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.

“After being alluded to in several reports, we wish to point out that we have never made any statement, formal or otherwise, as to the incoming leadership of the DILG. Being professional policemen, our stand and commitment is to support the government of duly elected men and its institutions and agencies as headed by its duly appointed authorities,” Chief Superintendent Edgardo Tinio, Sandiwa class president, said in a press briefing.

“No personnel or sector within our class is in a position to raise opinion or question important decisions of the national leadership especially this pertaining to appointment of officials to different offices. There is therefore no truth to media reports that the PMA Class ‘85 officers are raising an issue over the purported appointment of Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. to the DILG.”

Tinio, who was recently appointed as the Quezon City Police District director, said PMA ’85 members are always behind President Benigno Aquino III and his executive decisions.

Since Roxas was anointed as the standard-bearer of the ruling Liberal Party, names of Ochoa and Samar Representative Mel Senen Sarmiento have cropped up as those being considered for the top DILG post.

When reports surfaced that some PMA men are opposing Ochoa’s possible appointment, PNP officials immediately denied that there was a collective stand from both classes against Ochoa.

Some officials said the “malicious” and “irresponsible” report was meant to derail the appointments of PMA ’85 and ’86 members to higher PNP posts. Of the 42 members of Sandiwa class, there are 20 star-rank officers.

“We appeal to those who are peddling this disinformation to spare us from their personal interest. We assure the public that our primary objective is to ensure public safety, and not to raise opinion or judge the decision of the national leadership,” Tinio said.

For Sinagtala class’s part, its president, Senior Superintendent Ronald Dela Rosa, said they are “completely ignorant” of talks that Ochoa will take over the DILG.

“We are completely ignorant of such move so how could we react to that move. We are professionals, we are disciplined officers and whoever is designated by the President as the DILG secretary, we will give our unwavering support,” he said.

While the PMA members choose to spare themselves from politics, Dela Rosa also appealed to the politicians to leave the internal affairs of the PNP to the 160,000-strong organization.

“Who are we to oppose the decision of the President? We are just workers in the government. We follow orders and we leave politics to the politicians. And we also hope that the politicians will leave the internal affairs of the PNP to the PNP,” Dela Rosa said. Julliane Love de Jesus/RAM