PNP says it can secure polls despite chief’s retirement

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday assured the public that it won’t have any problem securing the May 9 polls despite the impending retirement of its chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos on the eve of election day.

“Our citizens don’t need to worry about whether or not there would be a change of leadership in PNP. The PNP is ready to respond to all security needs during the election,” PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said in a radio interview.

Carlos is turning 56, the mandatory retirement age for a PNP chief, on May 8 – eve of the 2022 elections.

Last Sunday, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said President Duterte may extend the term of Carlos to create a smooth transition to the next administration.

Malacañang and the PNP have yet to announce whether a decision has been reached on whether Carlos’ term would be extended or if an OIC would be appointed.

While Año feels an extension is likely, he said he has a shortlist of possible appointees as OIC if Carlos’ term is not extended.

Fajardo said Carlos is looking forward to his retirement.

Carlos earlier said he had been overseeing all the preparations to secure the elections nationwide in anticipation of his retirement.

Fajardo said preparations include the deployment of over 16,000 additional police personnel to election hotspots and areas of concern by next week.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, a former PNP chief who is running for president,  stressed the law mandates the retirement of officers upon reaching the age of 56.

“Of course it (extension) is a subject being contested but that’s another matter altogether,” he said.

Former PNP chief Guillermo Eleazar, who is running for senator under Lacson’s ticket, said Carlos’ retirement is unlikely to affect security preparations for the May elections.

“Even before the election period, these (peace and order) programs have been laid out. We all know that every three and six years we have elections,” Eleazar told the same media briefing.

He recalled that before his retirement last year, he was already implementing measures for the security of the elections.

“And just in case the President decides to let our present chief PNP, whoever will be replacing him will just continue those programs,” Eleazar said.

But Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, also a former PNP chief, said an extension “would mean less disruptions in the execution of PNP plans and programs in the upcoming national elections.”

“Changing horses in the middle of the race would entail disruptions. But if the President has decided to forgo the extension then I see no problem since I am sure the successor is up to the challenge,” Dela Rosa said.

“The PNP as an organization has been engaged in all the past elections so everything is routine,” he said. – Paolo Romero