Senator Sherwin Gatchalian called on President Marcos to appoint a Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief who embodies strong leadership, unwavering integrity, and a deep sense of public service.
Gatchalian: Next PNP chief should have integrity; focus on crime, internal cleansing
By Dhel Nazario
At A Glance
- Senator Gatchalian emphasized that the key challenge for the next PNP Chief is rooting out corrupt officers to restore public trust and preserve institutional integrity.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, May 28, Gatchalian emphasized that the next PNP Chief must prioritize restoring peace and order, which he described as essential not only for public safety but also for sustaining economic growth.
“The next PNP Chief must focus on restoring peace and order, which is crucial to public safety and economic growth,” said the senator.
He urged the future PNP leader to confront pressing issues such as human trafficking, kidnappings, Philippine Offshore Gaming Operator (POGO)-related activities, and “brazen crimes committed in broad daylight.”
Gatchalian also underscored the importance of internal reforms within the police force, stressing that addressing corruption among its ranks is vital to regaining public trust.
“Isa pang mabigat na hamon para sa susunod na PNP Chief ang paglinis sa sariling hanay ng mga tiwaling pulis upang maibalik ang tiwala ng publiko at mapanatili ang integridad ng institusyon (Another major challenge for the next PNP Chief is cleansing the ranks of corrupt police officers in order to restore public trust and uphold the integrity of the institution),” he added.
Marcos has already confirmed that he has chosen the country's next top cop but declined to disclose the name, saying the officer should hear it from him first. He has ordered the PNP to sustain the gains of its anti-crime initiatives.
While withholding the name, the President described the next PNP chief as a senior officer already familiar with the country’s law enforcement landscape.