Three names are on the shortlist of candidates for the next chief of the Philippine National Police, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said on Friday.
“I have submitted a list to PRRD [President Rodrigo R. Duterte], three names,” Año told the Philippine News Agency.
“The President’s health cannot be compromised, so while I am at the hospital, and besides we have the technology right now, I submitted it [via e-mail] around Friday last week.”
Año did not name the candidates on the shortlist. He is now recovering after again testing positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 last week.
He said all PNP officers with a star rank could be considered for the post to be vacated by Gen. Archie Gamboa, who will retire upon turning 56 on Sept. 2.
Asked about the possibility of Gamboa’s term being extended, Año said this was a prerogative of the President.
“It is within his power because we are in a pandemic. It is allowed by law,” Año said.
“The term of the Chief PNP can be extended based on the situation. But I think [the President] had somebody in mind for the post even before.”
Among the possible contenders for PNP chief are Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan, deputy chief for administration and head of the Administrative Support to Covid-19 Operations Task Force (ASCOTF); Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, deputy chief for operations and commander of the Joint Task Force Covid Shield; and Lt. Gen. Cesar Hawthorne Binag, chief of the PNP directorial staff.
Cascolan, Gamboa’s batchmate in the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1986, will retire upon turning 56 in November.
Binag and Eleazar, both from the PMA Class of 1987, will retire in April and November 2021, respectively.
Meanwhile, PNP spokesman Brig. Gen. Bernard Banac said they had been preparing the retirement honors for Gamboa.
“The PNP is now preparing to render retirement honors to General Archie Gamboa and for a possible change-of- command ceremony,” Banac said.
“It will be held at the PNP Multi-Purpose Center on September 2, subject to the availability of President Rodrigo Duterte as the guest of honor and speaker.”
Banac said all invited officials would join the ceremony via video teleconferencing due to quarantine restrictions.
“All health standards and safety will be strictly observed,” he said.
Gamboa took over the PNP as officer in charge in October 2019, replacing Gen. Oscar Albayalde who stepped down after a controversial anti-drug operation during his stint as Pampanga Police chief in 2013.