MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) is at a crucial – and anxious – moment in its 24-year history: after 7 months of being headed by an officer-in-charge, the institution waits with bated breath for the announcement of a new full-time chief.

The next PNP chief faces a daunting task: a police force still reeling from the effects of “Oplan Exodus,” a botched police operation that claimed the lives of 44 PNP Special Action Force (SAF) members; divisions in the PNP; the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit meetings in November; the uncertainty over the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law; and the 2016 elections.

But will it be another last-minute announcement?

PNP OIC Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, the Deputy Chief for Administation of the PNP, is set to don his police uniform one last time on Thursday, July 16. Espina turns 56, the mandatory age of retirement, on July 19, which falls on a Sunday.

Even as Espina bids his farewell to the 150,000-strong PNP and reminds its members to rally behind its next head, there is still uncertainty at Camp Crame.

A group of police officials convened on Monday, July 13, to plan Espina’s retirement ceremony on Thursday, according to sources privy to the meeting. Also discussed was a possible turnover ceremony, although even that is still up in the air. After all, there is nobody to turn over the position to just yet.

It’s a situation similar to the one that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) faced last week, when it was time for its former chief, General Gregorio Catapang Jr., to retire. (READ: Suspense behind the choice of AFP chief: And they waited and waited)

Contenders for the top AFP post only found out that Lieutenant General Hernando Iriberri was picked by Aquino on the day of the turnover ceremony itself.

Contenders

It was widely assumed that Aquino would pick another of his close friends in the PNP, Chief Superintendent Raul Petrasanta, to be his next chief.

But that plan was thwarted when Petrasanta was preventively suspended over an allegedly dubious deal between the PNP’s Firearms and Explosives Office (FEO) and a courier company.

Petrasanta, along with Purisima and several other police officials, were eventually ordered dismissed by the Ombudsman over the same case.

Aquino has spoken to at least 3 officials for the job, and none of them have close ties to him. (READ: Who will Aquino pick as PNP chief?)

The PNP’s number 3, Deputy Chief for Operations Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo Jr. was interviewed late March. Two other contenders were interviewed on June 17 – the PNP’s number 4 man, Chief of Directorial Staff Deputy Director General Danilo Constantino and Directorate for Operations chief Director Ricardo Marquez.

Marquez’ interview was short, running for less than an hour.

Constantino’s meeting with the President lasted for about an hour while Garbo spoke to the President for more than an hour. Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, who is also chairman of the National Police Commission, was present in all interviews.

At least two of the contenders – Marquez and Constatino – were asked by the President to write a paper explaining their stand on two key issues: preventing another “Oplan Exodus” and fixing the division between commissioned officers in the PNP.

But one of Aquino’s criteria for his next police chief – a term that should go beyond the 2016 presidential elections – takes at least one contender out of the list. (The President did not apply the same requirement in his choice for the next Armed Forces chief; Iriberri is retiring in April 2016, a month before the May 2016 presidential polls.)

Garbo, a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class of 1981, is set to retire in March 2016, barely a month into the official campaign period for national posts.

Marquez and Constantino, both graduates of the PMA Class of 1982, retire much later. Marquez in August 2016 and Constantino in July 2016.

Various sources – from within the PNP and those close to the President – believe Marquez is a shoo-in for the post.

The 2-star police general, a Cavite native, was appointed Directorate for Operations chief in December 2013. Marquez was also once regional director of Ilocos.

Garbo, who was once the aide de camp of Liberal Party stalwart and Senate President Franklin Drilon, is perceived by many to be Roxas’ pick for PNP chief. Constantino, meanwhile, has the backing of Garbo and indirectly, Roxas.

Marquez’ name, meanwhile, has been linked repeatedly to Purisima. Although the police general is not known to be part of Purisima’s inner circle, he has something in common with the dismissed general: they are both Masons. 

Suspense builds

The last time Aquino picked a PNP chief, it was decidedly less suspense-filled.

Suspended, resigned and eventual dismissed Director General Alan Purisima was announced as the clear heir to the PNP weeks before his predecessor’s retirement. The general whom Purisima replaced, in fact, left his post months before his scheduled retirement to make way for Purisima.

Aquino and Purisima are close friends, dating back to the 80s. Purisima was once part of the Presidential Security Group tasked to guard Aquino, the son of former president Cory Aquino.

Roxas told reporters late June that the President was done vetting contenders and that an announcement would be made soon. But a month later, the PNP and its members are still left in the dark. – Rappler.com