New PNP chief: ‘My appointment a triumph of meritocracy’ 

Bea Cupin

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New PNP chief: ‘My appointment a triumph of meritocracy’ 
Even as the PNP OIC retires and PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez is installed, the ghost of dismissed police general Alan Purisima lingers 

MANILA, Philippines – It wasn’t personal ties or powerful backers that catapulted Director General Ricardo Marquez to the top post of the Philippine National Police (PNP). 

For the newly-installed chief of the 160,000-strong police force, it was his hard work for over 3 decades that gave him the 4 stars that now rest on his shoulders. 

“Last month, when news reports included my name in the short list for this position, a friend reminded me that becoming Chief of the PNP, like becoming president of the Philippines, is matter of destiny. No one receives this kind of blessing unless it is given from heaven,” Marquez, who was formally installed on Thursday, July 16, told an audience of top police and military officials, as well as his family and friends. 

He added, “I agreed, but I also consider this appointment as the triumph of meritocracy, the recognition of 33 years of hard work, dedication, and passion for public service.” 

It was this reason, said the new PNP chief, that meritocracy be “the hallmark of my administation.” 

“We will raise the bar for performance and accountability, so that excellence is rewarded and mediocrity receives its just deserts,” he added. 

Marquez on Thursday officially received his fourth star, which corresponds to his designation as chief of the PNP. On the same day, the PNP’s officer-in-charge, Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, retired from the service

The ghost of chiefs past 

Marquez’s eventual appointment was months in the making. For over 7 months, the PNP was headed by a mere OIC after its chief, Alan Purisima was preventively suspended over a graft case. Purisima eventually resigned and was later dismissed by the Ombudsman over the same case. 

The dismissed general was nowhere near Camp Crame on Thursday, but his memory lingered in the speeches delivered that day. 

President Benigno Aquino III himself, speaking at the end of the Thursday ceremonies, admitted he did not expect to appoint a new PNP chief this early in the year. 

Purisima, Aquino’s close friend, was not set to retire until November 2016. “Pero sa pag-alis ni General Purisima, na napabilis pa dahil sa kanyang suspension, maski tayo nalagay sa di-pangkaraniwang sitwasyon (With the departure of General Purisima, which was accelerated by his suspension, even I was placed in an extraordinary position),” said Aquino. 

Aquino also admitted he always had someone in mind to replace Purisima, confirming speculation over the reason behind the delay in appointing a new, full-time PNP chief. 

‘Yung isa sa kakilala nating posibleng mapili para sa posisyon, di na pala pupuwede dahil di na siya kabilang sa mga nagko-contend sa posisyong ito (One of our friends in the PNP who was a contender, ended up not being one anymore),” he said.

It was a thinly-veiled reference to Raul Petrasanta, another close friend of the President. Petrasanta, formerly a one-star general, was also preventively suspended – and eventually, dismissed – over the same graft case Purisima is facing. 

Echoing remarks made in earlier interviews, Aquino apologized for taking long to pick a new chief, saying that since he did not know the contenders for PNP chief personally, he had to vet and verify each one. 

Sa panahong pumipili tayo ng itatalaga, nakikita natin diyan ang katakot-takot na siraan (During the time we were choosing the next chief, we saw an abundance of mud-slinging.) 

Marquez’s marching orders 

In a press conference after his donning of rank, Marquez downplayed any intrigue that Aquino’s admission could have elicited. 

“There is that process in the Office of the President. As I’ve stated, we respect whatever process exists and I know that it was extensive. I had no idea that in other parts of the country, they were checking my background, talking to people I’ve worked with. It sounds like a sound and scientific process,” Marquez told reporters. 

Marquez was one of 3 police generals interviewed by the President for the post. 

The two police generals are now members of Marquez’ Command Group – Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo Jr, currently the PNP’s Deputy Chief for Operations; and Deputy Director General Danilo Constantino, the Chief of Directorial Staff. 

The PNP will also see several key changes soon. With Espina’s retirement and Marquez’ promotion, a new Directorate for Operations chief and Chief of Directorial Staff will soon be announced.

Several sources inside Camp Crame have indicated that Chief Superintendent Jonathan Miano, currently the Northern Police District (NPD), is likely to be the next DO chief and head of the Task Force the APEC Summit meetings. – Rappler.com

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Bea Cupin

Bea is a senior multimedia reporter who covers national politics. She's been a journalist since 2011 and has written about Congress, the national police, and the Liberal Party for Rappler.