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By EDD K. USMAN | Twitter: @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 | Facebook: SDN — SciTech and Digital News
MANILA, 24th April 2023 (SDN) — President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. sworn in today the new chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The Chief Executive named Police Maj. Gen. Benjamin Acorda, Jr. to replace Gen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr. as the new head of the PNP. Acorda will serve for only eight months as he reaches retirement age in December this year.
As this developed, Sen. Robinhood “Abdul Aziz” Padilla hailed the change of leadership at the PNP’s top echelon, saying he expects the new chief to usher in a better image for the PNP.
“Inaasahan natin na bagong hirang na hepe ng Pambansang Kapulisan ay magiging bagong imahe ng kapulisan. Harinawang ang inyong liderato ay magsilbing gabay at bagong liwanag sa ating mga pulis na nalilligaw ng landas at sa ating mga kababayang nawawalan ng tiwala at respeto sa mga alagad ng batas,” Padilla emphasizes. (Translation: We expect the newly chosen chief of the Philippine National Police will be the new image of the PNP. Hopefully, your leadership will serve as model and new light to our policemen who lost their way and to our countrymen who are losing their trust and respect for the members of the PNP.)
Padilla did not indicate it, but he was apparently referencing the controversy on the alleged involvement of some PNP officers in a cover up of the Php6.7-billion shabu haul in Tondo, Manila, Metro Manila, in 2022 and other controversies.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos, Jr. raised the cover up. But those named in the alleged cover up, including two police generals, denied it.
“Nakalulugod pong balita ang mapayapang pagpapalit ng liderato ng Pambansang Pulisya ng Pilipinas,” says the Muslim senator, who topped the senatorial race in May 2022. (Translation: The peaceful change of leadership in the Philippine National Police is a welcome news.)
In a press statement the senator’s office provided to SDN — SciTech and Digital News, he sent his greetings to Acorda for being selected by the President for the PNP top post.
Renewal, Padilla pointed out, is a good omen as it opens new doors for many opportunities. He added in his statement made in Pilipino that “a new beginning is a signal of good news”.
Padilla confident on new PNP leadership of cleansing police ranks
“Ito po ay senyales ng senyales ng pagbabago. At tayo ay bukas sa pagbabagong tungo sa kapakinabangan ng publiko, lalo na ang mga api at biktima ng pang-aabuso ng mga nasa kapangyarihan.” (Translation: This is a sign of a new beginning. And we are open to reform for the public’s benefit, especially the oppressed and victims of abuses from those in power.)
A popular movie personality, Padilla noted that in the past months and days the PNP as an institution had been faced with many challenges.
“We believe that PNP Chief Acorda can do a lot to fulfill the PNP’s supreme mandate, as well as meting appropriate punishment to anyone who will stain their duty to the nation: to serve and protect,” Padilla emphasizes.
“I believe in your leadership that we can cleanse the ranks of our uniformed men and convince our countrymen to give their full support and confidence in the entire police hierarchy,” concludes Padilla in his statement.
Before his ascendance to the top of the PNP leadership, Acorda, a member of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Sambisig” Class of 1991, was chief of the Directorate for intelligence.
The Philippine Daily Inquirer said the new PNP chief also had a stint as chief of the Palawan Police Provincial Office (PPPO) from 2014 to 2016 as well as serving as Northern Mindanao Police Regional Office regional director. (/)