With President Marcos “inclined” to extend General Rommel Marbil’s term as Philippine National Police (PNP) chief by six months, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla said on Tuesday, Jan. 21, that the announcement might come before Feb. 7.
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. and PNP chief Gen. Rommel Marbil (MB File photos)
Marbil will turn 56 years old, the mandatory retirement age in PNP, this coming Feb. 7. But there had been talks to extend his term until after the May midterm elections so as not to sow confusion in the organization.
“He hasn’t announced it but he’s indicated that he’s inclined to doing it. So, wala pang final answer. Ang birthday yata ni General Marbil (I think General Marbil’s birthday) is February 7, so before that he will announce kung ano ang desisyon niya (what his decision is),” Remulla divulged during a Palace press briefing after his meeting with the President.
The DILG chief also expressed confidence that there would be no issues within the PNP if Marbil’s term is extended by six months.
“Six months lang naman ang extension at most so I don’t see any reason. Mas nagiging importante iyon stability ng institution lalong-lalo na during elections (The extension will only be for six months at most, so I don’t see any reason. The stability of the institution especially during elections is more important),” he added.
Remulla explained that the reassignment of personnel in the PNP has already concluded, so there is no point to having a new PNP chief.
“So, might as well keep the status quo until after the BARMM elections tapos pipili na ng bago ang Pangulo (then the President will choose a new one),” the official stressed.
In an ambush interview on Monday, Marcos said that “there is a very strong argument that it would not be good for stability, especially to change the chief PNP in the middle of a campaign period and approaching an election period.”
The election period began on Sunday, Jan. 12. It will end on June 11, or a month after the May 12 midterm elections.
Remulla, however, admitted that there are names nominated to replace Marbil as PNP chief.
“Siyempre nasa top sila ng hierarchy so it’s the President’s prerogative to announce kung sino ang choice niya (Of course, they are at the top of the hierarchy so it’s the President’s prerogative to announce who his choice is),” he added.