Marquez: PNP may miss out ‘brilliant’ cops


Once Chief Supt. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa assumes the highest post in the Philippine National Police on July 1, senior police officials holding top positions in the PNP hierarchy are facing the possibility of being replaced by younger officers.

Dela Rosa, an appointee of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, vowed to implement a top-to-bottom reshuffle in the PNP, a move to completely rid the PNP of corruption. He said police generals will not be exempted.

Outgoing PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez and most of the senior officials in the PNP are Dela Rosa’s upperclassmen by four years at the Philippine Military Academy.

The major revamp has drawn the concern of Marquez, who will bow out of police service on Tuesday, as it would put senior officials in limbo.

Marquez was referring to Police Director Benjamin Magalong, currently head of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM), Police Director Victor Deona, chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), Police Director Jonathan Miano, Directorate for Operations (DO) chief, Police Director Wilfredo Franco, Directorate for Police Community Relations (DPCR) chief, and Police Director Noel Vargas, head of the Directorate for Plans (DPL).

READ: Marquez on new PNP chief: We all have our own styles, priorities

Demoralizing

He admitted that the reshuffle may cause demoralization among senior officials. But the retiring police chief said they should focus on other possible opportunities that might open for them.

“May component (demoralization) naman palaging gano’n but as I’ve said, may component din na opportunity, ‘wag nating kakalimutan (There’a always a demoralization component, but as I’ve said, there’s also the component of opportunity),” Marquez told reporters at Camp Crame on his last working day in office on Monday.

“Personally, when you’re the PNP chief and a coach of a basketball team,  you’re looking at Deona, Magalong, Miano, Franco, Vargas—we have the guard, center, forward. They are all good,” he said.

“Nakakalungkot syempre, diba (Of course, it’s disheartening, right)? You’re talking of reforms in this organization. You’re talking of a momentum. So hopefully our successors would see the things that we’ve done in the best light and hopefully, they continue to do the things na makakatulong (that will be helpful),” he said.

Marquez, Magalong, Deona, Franco and Vargas are all members of the PMA “Sandigan” Class of 1982.

But his praises were not because the officials were his “mistahs,” Marquez clarified.

“‘Yung impression na magkakaklase eh kaya nagtutulungan. Hindi ganon. (The impression that just because we’re classmates, we help each other out, it’s not like that.) We take pride that we have a very dedicated team,” he said.

During the blessing of a new office at the CIDG headquarters, Deona delivered a strongly-worded speech and took the opportunity to challenge his lower classmen from the PMA “Sinagtala” Class of 1986, Dela Rosa’s batch, who will soon take over the PNP hierarchy, to make good the PNP promise of change.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to speak my side out before we bow out of service: there’s this passage I would really love to repeat over and over again: work for a cause, not for applause. live life to express not to impress. Do not make your presence needed just make your absence felt. And I would like to dedicate that passage to members of PMA Class ’86,” Deona said.

“You are about to take the reins of the PNP. My challenge for you is, what do we really want to do with the PNP? What do we want to do to solve the problems of the PNP? Aayusin ba natin o lalaruin (Should we fix it or play with it)?” he said.

READ: Marquez: PNP will be in good hands

No insignificant assignment

Marquez said the officials he mentioned have been very instrumental in making sure that the objectives of the PNP—to improve crime prevention and crime solution efforts on the ground—are met.

“If I would be given another chance to (appoint officers), I would choose them again,” the outgoing chief said.

Wherever the generals may be assigned, Marquez told his colleagues that there will never be an “insignificant post” as long as they can contribute to the PNP in living up to its purpose, to serve and protect the people.

“My message to them, hold on to your dreams and don’t ever forget the values of public service. Wherever we go, there is no insignificant assignment as long as it’s for public service. We all contribute in one way or another to make sure that the institution like the PNP will continue to cater to the needs of the people,” he said.

Marquez will be given retirement honors at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame on Tuesday. Outgoing President Benigno Aquino III will also attend the ceremony. CDG/rga

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