BOWING to the whispers of Palace “Mandarins,” Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte decided to dump his own ‘seniority rule’ in the appointment of the head of the 119,000-strong Philippine National Police by appointing to the post the controversial head of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), P/MGen. Debold Sinas.
In a statement just hours ago, Atty. Harry Roque, presidential spokesman, confirmed the appointment of Sinas as replacement to outgoing Chief PNP, P/Gen. Camilo Cascolan.
The turnover ceremony at Camp Crame is expected tomorrow, November 10, 2020, when Cascolan reached the mandatory retirement age of 56.
Cascolan only served as Chief PNP for barely two months, having succeeded P/Gen. Archie Gamboa to the post last September 2, 2020.
Bypassed, for the third time, is P/Lt. General Guillermo T. Eleazar, the most senior PNP official expected to succeed Cascolan had the Chief Executive honored his own rule.
As of this posting, it is not yet clear if Duterte or Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary, Eduardo Año, would grace the occasion due to the COVID-19 pandemic although their presence has been a tradition in the national police organization during such important event.
‘Intentionally bypassed?
In October 2019, when then Chief PNP Oscar Albayalde, was forced to retire early after being tagged for involvement in illegal drugs, Gamboa, then the most senior PNP official, was temporarily appointed as PNP ‘Officer-In-Charge.’
At the time, most Filipinos assumed that Eleazar would be next Chief PNP, given his excellent track record, integrity and credibility as police director of Quezon City and as head of the NCRPO.
But instead, the Palace Mandarins who always have the ears of Duterte made their move and the post went instead to Gamboa; as a ‘consuelo de bobo,’ Eleazar was appointed chief of the PNP directorial staff, and subsequently as deputy director for operations, the third most senior position in the PNP.
As the retirement of Gamboa nears, public expectation was high that Eleazar would be the next Chief PNP as Cascolan only has two months in service.
But again, the Palace Mandarins made their move—and Duterte again agreed—to bypassed Eleazar, citing the ‘seniority rule’ the President purportedly want to observe.
As a sop to his twice wounded pride, Eleazar was promoted to the second highest position at the PNP as deputy director for administration, thus placing him as the most senior candidate to replace Cascolan.
Last week, as Cascolan’s retirement is just a matter of days away, rumors began to circulate that for the third time, Eleazar would be bypassed anew and that for reason only known to him, Duterte is no longer interested in honoring his own rule of seniority, thus paving the way to the appointment today of Sinas as the new Chief PNP.
Sinas is expected to serve his new post until his retirement in May next year; Eleazar is set to retire several months later, in November.
Sources have been repeatedly telling Pinoy Exposé that despite being the public’s choice and for all his credentials, the Palace Mandarins are determined to not allow Eleazar to sit, even for one day, as Chief PNP.
And apparently, this is also what Duterte wants all along.