This was the statement made by retired Gen. Rogelio Pureza, a former top executive of the National Police Commission (Napolcom) who himself was in the police service for 42 years, on the issue of who should be the next chief of the PNP.
In an interview, Pureza said that there should be continuity of service for the PNP chief in the same manner that there is a fixed term for president.
However, he stressed that if there is going to be a replacement for the PNP chief ahead of his retirement, the practice in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) where the Chief of Staff sometimes assumes office for one week and then replaced by another should not be adopted in the national police. "What policy can be made by someone who assumed office for one week and then retires?," he asked.
"Following the well-settled regulation in the PNP which has been sanctioned by RA 6975 and 8551 and sanctioned further by the implementing rules and memorandum circulars of the Napolcom for everyone in the PNP, those who have less than one year should not get promoted or assigned major commands," Pureza emphasized, citing Section 25 of the PNP Law, a portion of which specifically states that: "Except for the Chief, PNP, no PNP member who has less than one year of service before reaching the compulsory retirement age shall be promoted to a higher rank or appointed to any other position."
Pureza clarified that the words "except for the Chief, PNP" in the said provision refers to the one who is still aspiring for the position.
"The intention of the law should be read, it should be considered in connection with Section 25," Pureza further stated, adding that while President Arroyo can appoint a replacement for the post should Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. retires earlier, he believes that the Chief Executive would conform to the generally accepted principle of good management.
"The usual practice and what is followed by Napolcom is those who have less than one year of service are disqualified from getting promoted or being appointed to a position," according to Pureza, who is former vice chairman and commissioner of the Napolcom.
"My personal opinion of the matter is no President would like any demoralization in the organization (PNP)," he added.
"The intention of the law is to have a continuity of service and to strengthen the organization. That was the very reason why the PNP was removed from the clutches of politics, that was the reason why it was made a constitutional creation under Section 6 of Article 16 of the Constitution," he added, further stating that: "If the Chief PNP becomes an accommodation position, then what happens to the rank and file? The strength of an organization lies not on the leadership but on the whole organization. The whole organization must have something to look up to, which means that if you are a colonel, you aspire to be a general; if you are one-star general, you aspire to become a two-star, and so on.… that is also the reason why there is a retirement period."
Pureza said that the police is a civil service position and no one is indispensable such that "if it’s your time to go, you go."
Asked about the possibility of the appointment of Deputy Director Gen. Edgardo Aglipay, who is due to retire in September, as chief of the national police, Pureza said: "The President is the ultimate authority here. But I do not believe the President will go against the generally accepted norms and practice because she always has the greater interest of the greater majority."
He likewise reiterated that "those who have less than one year to go in the service must give way," adding, "to be Chief PNP, all that you must be is a one-star general."
"RA 6975 is very specific and any violation of law is an impeachable offense," he further stated.
Records obtained by the Manila Bulletin show that there are six police generals who are due to retire this year, and at least 21 more retirables next year, 2005.
Those due for retirement within the year include Ebdane, who will turn 56 on December 30; Aglipay, who will reach the retirement age ahead of the Chief PNP on September 13; Director Jose Lalisan, September 9; Director Eduardo Matillano, November 30; Director Enrique Galang, December 24; and Chief Supt. Ayap, September 18.
The contenders for the Chief PNP post include Aglipay, Galang, Deputy Director Gen. Virtus Gil, Deputy Director Gen. Reynaldo Velasco, and Director Ricardo de Leon.
Gil and Velasco both have less than a year left in the service, Gil shall turn 56 on March 14, and Velasco on May 22, 2005.
