For Police General Benjamin Acorda, Jr., a leader who would display good leadership deserves a longer tour of duty as the Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Acorda said a longer tour of duty would mean an assurance of the sustainability of the implementation of various programs and projects relating to law enforcement and crime prevention measures.
“As far as I am concerned, a longer tour of duty would be better for good leadership especially because of the current system now when it takes time to request for funds,” Acorda told reporters after the Testimonial Parade for him at the Philippine Military Academy (PMA).
Acorda, a member of PMA Class 1991, said there were a lot of cases in the past that the PNP budget prepared under the leadership of a sitting Chief PNP would be approved under a new leadership.
This, he said, may result in a change of priorities and programs that are not aligned during the preparations of the PNP budget.
“If a Chief PNP has less than a year, there could be a change of mindset once the budget is approved under a new Chief PNP. There could be a change in priorities and the new Chief PNP may have other ways of implementing programs and projects,” said Acorda.
“There is no coherence ng budget asked and the implementation. So it would be better that there should be continuity in asking the budget and in the implementation,” he added.
In the past years, those appointed as Chief PNP only stayed in the post for less than a year.
In the military, a law was signed into law that sets a fixed term for Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other key military posts for a maximum of three years, unless terminated by the sitting President.
Acorda assumed the top PNP leadership on April 24 this year. He is set to retire on Dec. 3.
As he prepares for his retirement next month, Acorda said he is hoping that the reforms he initiated would be sustained, especially in winning the trust and confidence of the people.
“Gaining the trust and confidence of the people and engaging them is a start of a progressive and peaceful community,” said Acorda.