Gamboa mum on PNP chief candidacy

Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan, Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, and Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa. COMBINATION PHOTOS FROM INQUIRER.NET FILES

MANILA, Philippines — Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa on Monday refused to comment on his candidacy for the 23rd chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“Sabi ko diba (Didn’t I say it already), I will talk only once and this is the end of it. No comment,” Gamboa, officer-in-charge of the PNP, said in a press briefing when asked if Malacañang already mentioned updates about the appointment of the next PNP chief.

“Please, tulungan niyo naman ako (help me) not to discuss about me being a candidate. In fairness also to the other candidates. Kasi (Because) people might see it as I am taking advantage of my being an OIC, so please nakikiusap ako na (I am pleading that there would be) no more questions about [my] candidacy,” he told Camp Crame reporters.

He then advised that the public instead wait for Presdident Rodrigo Duterte to make his announcement, since the President also has other issues to take care of.

“Anyway, nandito naman ako (I am just here). Nandito ako (I am here) as OIC to take care of the organization. And don’t you think, ibalik ko sa inyo (I will return the question to you), am I doing well as an OIC or not, diba (right)? So let me mind my business as officer-in-charge and then pabayaan natin (let it be). We respect the President for his decision,” he said.

Gamboa, who by hierarchy holds the second highest post in PNP as deputy chief for administration, is one of the three candidates recommended by Interior Secretary Eduardo Año to Duterte to be the next leader of the 190,000-strong police force.

Other candidates are Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan, the PNP’s “number three man” as deputy chief for organization, and Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, who holds the fourth highest position as chief of the directorial staff.

Gamboa was appointed OIC of the PNP on October 14 after Gen. Oscar Albayalde stepped down as PNP chief amid the alleged drug recycling in Pampanga in 2013, and ahead of his retirement on November 8. Albayalde was the Pampanga police director when the controversial operation was launched and was accused of protecting his subordinates from dismissal from service. /je

READ: Gamboa appointed as officer-in-charge of PNP