PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed P/MGen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, as the 30TH director general of the 230,000-strong Philippine National Police (PNP), with the exhortation to turn the PNP into “agents of progressive transformation in the lives of our people by ensuring the safety and well-being of every community in the land.”
The appointment of Marbil, a product of the ‘Sambisig Class’ of 1991 of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and erstwhile director of the Directorate for Comptrollership, absolved him from the controversial ‘floating’ of his name last December as the “new” Chief PNP in social media that was denied back then by the PNP as “fake news.” This, after PBBM extended the term of Director General Benjamin Acorda Jr. who was supposed to officially retire at the time.
“Police General Marbil, you have my full confidence and my full support, as you begin to champion a police that is pro-God, pro-country, pro-people, pro-environment.
“Let us work closely with you in addressing emerging threats, such as cybercrime, terrorism, and transnational crimes,” the Chief Executive said.
Before assuming the top PNP post, Marbil, according to the statement from Camp Crame, also served as regional director of the Police Regional Office 8 (PRO8) (August 8, 2022-May 2, 2023), Group Director, Highway Patrol Group (November 19, 2021-August 8, 2022), chief of staff, Civil Security Group (2019-2020) and provincial police director of the Agusan del Norte Police Office for one year (2014-2015).
Marbil is also a member of the Special Action Force (SAF) and previously served as chief of police of Bacoor (2004-2006) and with the United Nations contingent in Liberia as commander of the Presidential Protection Security Force (2006-2007).
A Manilenyo, Marbil is expected to serve as Chief PNP until his retirement on February 7, 2025.
Responding to the President’s challenge, Marbil said he shared the latter’s vision for the country.
“Ang pangarap ko, ay pangarap niyo rin. Matatag na ekonomiya, maayos na lipunan at maayos na kapulisan – ‘yan po unang kataga na sinabi ng Presidente during the inauguration. Ang masasabi ko po your Excellency, sir, matutupad po,” Marbil said.
“I look forward to my duties, may God continue to bless all of us and dito sa Bagong Pilipinas, isa lang ang gusto ng Pulis. Ligtas ka.”
Incidentally, the President on Sunday, tasked P/LtGen. Emmanuel Peralta, PNP deputy director general for administration as ‘OIC’ (officer-in-charge) but Peralta served in that capacity for less than 24 hours.