PNP chief Dionardo Carlos yesterday said his impending retirement on May 8 will not affect the conduct of the national and local elections on Monday next week.
In a press briefing at Camp Crame, Carlos said all of the security preparations of the PNP for the polls have been in place long ago, adding his successor will only need to implement them.
Carlos is due to reach the retirement age of 56 on Sunday, or a day before the elections. He earlier said a turnover ceremony had been scheduled this Friday.
“We prepared, actually that’s part of all my preparations, the continuity and we made the necessary contingency planning,” Carlos said. “We are used to movement of personnel and the performance of our job continues.”
“We’ll do what we planned for. They know very well the plan, they know very well what is our contingency plan,” Carlos added, referring to his subordinates.
If any untoward incident happens, Carlos said the PNP has also prepared corresponding measure to address the situation.
“That’s part (of our preparations), all possible scenarios on how we will respond or how we will avert those kinds of scenarios,” said Carlos. “Almost everything is in place. What’s left to be done is the deployment of admin personnel. They will be on the ground by this week. Before Friday, they will be on the ground, our additional personnel.”
The PNP has earmarked at least 56,000 police for the elections. The PNP later said the number will be augmented by an undetermined number of personnel assigned in different police headquarters.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año yesterday said President Duterte has yet to decide if he would extend Carlos’ term until the end of his administration on June 30 or appoint an acting PNP chief.
Año has recommended two senior police officials to succeed Carlos. PNP deputy chief for administration Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia and acting PNP deputy chief for operations Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao are said to be the top contenders to succeed Carlos.
If the President decides not to extend the term of Carlos, Año said the President will appoint an acting PNP chief.
“Under the Constitution, 60 days before a presidential election, the president cannot anymore issue a permanent appointment for executive positions…Sixty days before any presidential election and up to the end of his term, he cannot appoint a permanent (PNP chief),” said Año.
