Several PNP directors endorsed for top PNP post

L-R: Chief Supt. Raul D. Petrasanta, Deputy Director General Marcelo P. Garbo Jr., Director Benjamin B. Magalong, Director Ricardo Marquez and Director Juanito B. Vaño

MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) may take a while in having its new PNP chief as several police directors are named for the said post.

House of Representative Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., has recently endorsed Chief Supt. Raul D. Petrasanta in his letter to President Benigno Aquino III.

Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, on the other hand, has reportedly named Deputy Director General Marcelo P. Garbo Jr. as his preferred PNP chief.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, for his part, has apparently approved of Director Benjamin B. Magalong as replacement to resigned Director General Alan Purisima.

Purisima, however, has reportedly named Director Ricardo Marquez and Director Juanito B. Vaño as his preferred successors.

Purisima, who has been suspended in relation to alleged sale of rifles to the New People’s Army (NPA) and has resigned from his post after being linked to the gruesome Mamasapano clash, decided to continue serving in the national police until his retirement.

With President Aquino still not appointing the new PNP chief, Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina has been acting as the PNP chief. Espina, however, will retire next month.