Año: I will do my job to supervise, fix PNP

MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Monday accepted President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to supervise and fix the Philippine National Police (PNP) while the chief executive is still choosing the next chief of the nation’s police force.

“The President is still searching for a permanent chief PNP and my job is to supervise the organization on his behalf as his alter ego, being the DILG [Department of the Interior and Local Goverment] Secretary and Chairman of Napolcom. I will do my job until the President chooses the next chief PNP,” Año said in a statement.

Duterte has yet to pick the next PNP chief as he is looking into the performance of candidates on curbing the proliferation of illegal drugs in the country, Año also noted.

“I believe he has choices in his mind but he is closely watching the performance and conviction of these candidates particularly on the fight against illegal drugs and professionalizing the PNP ranks,” the Interior Secretary said.

Duterte earlier commanded Año, to lead and improve the PNP, which is being supervised by officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa.

Duterte’s difficulties in choosing next PNP chief

Duterte previously admitted that he is having difficulties in choosing the next chief of the country’s police force, which implements the government’s crackdown against illegal drugs.

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, former presidential aide, said the President is not looking for the “best” one but someone who is the most honest.

The position of the police force’s chief was vacated after former PNP chief Gen. Oscar Albayalde stepped down amid facing a heated Senate investigation into the controversial 2013 drug operation in Mexico, Pampanga.

Año sent three recommendations to the President for the PNP chief post namely Gamboa, PNP deputy chief for operations Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan and the chief of PNP directorial staff Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar.

Edited by JPV