Today, Secretary
of the Interior and Local
Government and National Police Commission
(NAPOLCOM) Chairman
Benhur Abalos Jr. clarified
that the recently reported
reassignments of eight
high-ranking PNP officials
are currently just recommendations, which are
subject first to NAPOLCOM confirmation, and
then Presidential approval.
“Linawin lang
natin na may prosesong
kailangang sundin. Ang
listahan ng mga napiling opisyal ay isusumite sa NAPOLCOM para
sa kumpirmasyon. Kung
makumpirma ng NAPOLCOM, mapupunta yung
listahan sa Pangulo para
sa kanyang pag-apruba,”
Abalos said.
Yesterday evening, various news outlets
had reported that PNP
had assigned a number
of generals to various
key positions in the PNP
leadership, including the
heads of the National Capital Region Police Office,
the Directorate for Intelligence, the Directorate for
Investigation and Detective Management, and the
Directorate for Logistics.
Abalos explained
that Sec. 6 (3) (f) of NAPOLCOM Memorandum
Circular No. 2019-001 provides, “The assignment/
designation of the [concerned positions] shall be
submitted to the Commission for confirmation prior
to the submission of the
same to the President for
approval.”
Also, Abalos noted that the NAPOLCOM’s
authority in this regard
stems from Sec. 6, Art.
XVI of the 1987 Constitution, which provides: “The
State shall establish and
maintain one police force,
which shall be national in
scope and civilian in character, to be administered
and controlled by a national police commission.”
Abalos added,
“Civilian control over the
police is a hallowed principle of our fundamental
law. Rest assured that the
NAPOLCOM will carry out
its duty to oversee and enhance the administration of the PNP.
