PNP on Bato’s replacement announcement: An impromptu spiel

MANILA, Philippines — “An impromptu spiel” was how the Philippine National Police  (PNP) spokesman described an announcement that Director General Ronaldo dela Rosa’s deputy would take his place as national police chief after his retirement in January.

PNP sources, however, confirmed that Apolinario, a former police chief of Davao City, was expected to replace Dela Rosa.

 “It was an impromptu spiel, an introduction spiel. That’s what happened,” PNP spokesman Chief Supt. Dionardo Carlos said in a news briefing at Camp Crame yesterday.

Carlos was referring to an announcement by Supt. Ercy Nanette Tomas, legal officer of the PNP Center for Police Strategic Management, that Deputy Director Ramon Apolinario is set to replace Dela Rosa when the latter reaches the mandatory retirement age of 56 on Jan. 21.

Tomas made the announcement at the 3rd PNP National Advisory Summit in Cebu on Monday. Apolinario was acknowledged as “the incoming PNP chief” several times during the second day of the summit.

“Among PNP gatherings, it’s a normal spiel so to clarify, it was an impromptu spiel made in introduction of the speaker of that time,” Carlos said when asked if the announcement was a joke.

“Let’s not make a big issue out of it. It was an impromptu introduction spiel during the program,” he added.

Apolinario is currently the officer in charge of the PNP as Dela Rosa is on an official trip abroad. 

Apolinario declined to comment, saying, “We are waiting for the official announcement.”

He said he would just focus on his job as the current deputy chief for administration of the PNP.

Carlos, for his part, said it is better to wait for an official announcement from Malacañang on Dela Rosa’s successor.

“If you want to take it seriously, wait for the official announcement from the appointing authority,” he said.