MANILA, Philippines – The standard Monday flag-raising ceremony at Camp Crame lasted longer than usual on June 27, as outgoing Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento and outgoing Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ricardo Marquez began their farewells. 

Sarmiento was guest of honor during the Monday flag-raising ceremony and will be given a send-off inside the PNP headquarters later in the day. Marquez will be conferred retirement honors on Tuesday, June 28.

For most government offices, Monday was the beginning of days-long farewells as the Aquino presidency comes to an end and the Duterte presidency begins.

Marquez, who was supposed to end nearly 4 decades of service in August, chose to retire early to make way for Chief Superintendent Ronald dela Rosa, incoming president Rodrigo Duterte’s pick to head the police force.

Marquez, former chief of the PNP Directorate of Operations, was appointed in July 2015 after months of the national police being headed by a mere officer-in-charge. 

He took over as the PNP was reeling from the Mamasapano encounter, which claimed the lives of more than 60 Filipinos, including 44 elite cops. 

Sarmiento, who was appointed in August 2015, is set to be replaced by Mike Sueño as chief of the DILG.

Sarmiento used to represent Northern Samar in Congress and was secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Party until he was picked to replace Manuel Roxas II, who quit the DILG post to run for president under the LP. 

In a chance interview with reporters, Sarmiento admitted he hoped to stay on for much longer, but acknowledged that his term depended on who would win the 2016 elections. Roxas, his party-mate, placed a distant second to Duterte in the presidential race. 

Sarmiento could have run for a 3rd straight term in Congress but chose to stay as Aquino’s 3rd and final DILG chief. 

Marquez told media in a separate chance interview that he was “excited” to retire early, given the work he’s done the past few years. Even before he was appointed PNP chief, Marquez led preparations for the visit of Pope Francis and later, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings. – Rappler.com