Duterte is having a hard time choosing next PNP chief

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte admitted Monday he was having a hard time choosing someone to replace resigned Gen. Oscar Albayalde as chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“It’s kind of a — not that messy, but it’s very hard, at this time, to choose a candidate who would really [be] the appropriate guy. It’s difficult,” Duterte told reporters in an interview in Malacañang.

Albayalde stepped down from his post last Oct. 14 amid accusations that he was involved in the so-called ninja cops issue.

He was supposed to step down on Nov. 8 when he would reach the mandatory retirement age of 56.

There are three names being floated as the possible next leader of the PNP — Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa, Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan, and Maj. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar.

Gamboa current holds the deputy chief for administration post and is also PNP’s officer-in-charge. Cascolan is the incumbent deputy chief for operations. Eleazar is now chief of the directorial staff of the PNP.

All three were recommended by Interior Secretary Eduardo Año.

Both Gamboa and Cascolan are mistahs, or classmates of Albayalde, in the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Sinagtala Class of 1986 and will retire from service in September and November 2020, respectively.

Meanwhile, Eleazar is an underclassman, being a member of the PMA Hinirang Class of 1987. He will retire from the PNP in November 2021.

READ: Año endorses 3 names to Duterte for next PNP chief