Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. confirmed during a press briefing at the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia on Wednesday that he has chosen a new chief for the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Describing the appointee as a “very senior officer,” Marcos declined to publicly name the individual, stating, “I would rather not use this forum to announce that. I think I should talk to them first because the official decision has not been made. Whoever it is should hear about it first from me, not through the news.”
The President’s marching orders for the incoming chief of the 228,000-strong police force are to continue current initiatives aimed at maintaining peace and order.
Marcos highlighted the positive crime statistics as a reason for this instruction, stating, “The new chief PNP is a very senior officer in the PNP. He knows the situation. And I will actually tell them, carry on what you are doing. Because we have very good statistics concerning crime.”
He cited a 23% decrease in crime in Metro Manila over the past six months and a nationwide drop in index crimes from 15,156 (January 1 to May 16, 2023) to 11,493 during the same period this year. “Everything—murder, homicide, physical injury, robbery, theft, rape, carnapping—all went down. So, they must be doing something right,” Marcos observed.
Despite these positive figures, the President emphasized that increasing police presence in public areas will remain a priority to enhance public trust and security. He specifically mentioned the “Cops on the Beat” program, designed to boost police visibility in communities. Furthermore, Marcos reiterated the administration’s goal of centralizing emergency services to achieve a five-minute response time, particularly in urban areas.
Potential candidates to succeed outgoing PNP Chief Gen. Rommel Marbil, who retires on June 7, include Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. (PNP Deputy Chief for Administration), Lt. Gen. Edgar Allan Okubo (Chief of Directorial Staff), Brig. Gen. Anthony Aberin (NCR Police Office Director), and Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III (CIDG Director). The official announcement of the new PNP chief is expected soon.
