The race is on!
Five names of senior officials of the Philippine National Police (PNP) have been recommended to President Duterte as possible replacement to Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar who is set to retire on November 13.
“I already submitted to the President the list of five names recommended to replace General Eleazar upon his retirement," said Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año, adding that he submitted the list on Nov. 2
Año has been an advocate of seniority as one of the factors that should be considered in both the police and the military. He was quoted saying that the criteria for PNP Chief selection should be “seniority, merit and service reputation."
The Contenders
And following his stand on seniority rule, the two classmates of the Eleazar at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) should be included in the list.
The are Police Lt. Gen. Joselito Vera Cruz, the number two man of the PNP being the deputy chief for Administration; and, Police Lt. Gen. Israel Ephraim Dickson, the number three PNP officer being the deputy Chief for Operations. Both Vera Cruz and Dickson, along with Eleazar, are members of the PMA "Hinirang" Class of 1987.
The number four man of the PNP of the PNP Chief Directorial Staff, Police Lt. Gen. Dionardo Carlos, if seniority rule would be followed in the recommendation.
Carlos, a member of the PMA "Maringal" Class 1988, served as the PNP spokesman, Regional Director of Police Regional Office 8, and the Directorate for integrated Police Operation-Visayas and Southern Luzon before he was appointed to his current post.
A well-rounded officer with good educational background, Carlos is also an expert in skydiving, motorcycle riding and rescue diving.
There are three other top contenders in the post but it was not immediately clear who among them is not included in list submitted by Año.
They are Police Maj. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, the current head of the Directorate for Operations; and, Police Brig. Gen. Valeriano de Leon, who briefly served as the Regional Director of Police Regional Office 7 and later Regional Director of Police Regional Office 3 before he was recently named as the Director of the Civil Security Group, a position that would earn him the second star, or the tank of Police Major General.
Both Sermonia and de Leon are members of PMA Class 1989.
Although he is the youngest among the six contenders, sources said Police Maj. Gen. Vicente Danao, Jr., the current director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), is considered as the top contender to replace Eleazar.
Danao, a member of PMA Class 1991, served as director of the Manila Police District and Regional Director of the Police Regional Office 4A before he was named as Metro Manila police chief.
Considering his fast ascent to PNP hierarchy and his last assignment before he was named as the NCRPO director, reliable sources said the last post he held and his current position now are actually preparations for him to lead the PNP. Both the PRO 4A and the NCRPO are considered as the most coveted posts in the PNP.
Danao is also known as a trusted man of President Duterte. He once served as Director of the Davao City Police.
Extension?
When pressed on the possibility of Eleazar’s extension, Año stressed that it would depend on the decision of the President.
It can be recalled that the President extended the tenure of then PNP Chief and now presidential candidate Senator Ronald “Bato’’ dela Rosa.
“It depends of course on the President. That is within his authority,’’ he added.
However, Año remained mum on the list when asked who among the senior police officers are the frontrunners to be the next chief PNP.