INTERIOR Secretary Benhur Abalos yesterday denied rumors that President Marcos is set to name PNP deputy chief for operations Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia as the next chief of the police force, adding no decision has been made so far.
Abalos said he is aware of the rumors about Sermonia, the PNP’s No. 2 man, but added:
“It’s not true.”
“The matter is still being discussed,” Abalos added.
Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. is currently the PNP officer-in-charge (OIC) in concurrent capacity as the PNP’s No. 3 man as PNP deputy chief for operations.
Danao took over as the PNP OIC last May 6, two days before the retirement of then PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos.
Danao and Sermonia are the top contenders for post.
The other contenders include Area Police Command-Northern Luzon chief Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., PNP deputy chief for operations Maj. Gen. Valeriano De Leon, and National Capital Police Office chief Maj. Gen Felipe Natividad.
In a press briefing on Monday last week, Abalos said they are still studying who will be the next PNP chief. He said the decision may be known “within the next several weeks.”
Abalos has commended Danao for the successful campaign against illegal drugs during his incumbency as officer-in-charge of the 225,000-strong police force.
