As Duterte’s alter ego, Año says he’s ready to supervise police force

FILE: President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is assisted by Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año as he hands over a trophy to one of the awardees during the 118th Police Service Anniversary at Camp Brigadier General Rafael T. Crame in Quezon City. KING RODRIGUEZ/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Until the country’s next top cop is appointed, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año expressed his readiness to supervise the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“The President [Rodrigo Duterte] is still searching for a permanent Chief PNP and my job is to supervise the organization on his behalf as his alter ego, being the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) Secretary and Chairman of NAPOLCOM (National Police Commission),” Año said.

“I will do my job until the President chooses the next Chief PNP,” he added.

This is his response after the Chief Executive revealed that he asked Año to temporarily handle the country’s police force, which has no leader since Oscar Albayalde stepped down last October, following his alleged involvement in the controversial 2013 drug operation in Pampanga.

In his speech delivered in M’Lang, Cotabato, Duterte said the performance of the police in the provinces are ‘good’ compared to the ones in Manila.

“That’s why I did not appoint a PNP [chief]. Sabi ko kay General Año na hawakan niya muna (I told General Año to supervise it for the meantime),” the President earlier said.

“You fix the police so that by the time we make the exit two years from now, at least ang mga problema ng Pilipino medyo — medyo hindi na masyadong mabigat (the problems of the Filipinos would not be as heavy),” he added.

In his statement, Año said he believes that Duterte has choices in his mind, however, he is still  “closely watching the performance and conviction of these candidates particularly on the fight against illegal drugs and professionalizing the PNP ranks.”

The PNP’s current officer-in-charge is Lieutenant General Archie Gamboa. Aside from him, Año also recommended to the President PNP deputy chief for operations, Lieutenant General Camilo Cascolan and the chief of the directorial staff, Major General Guillermo Eleazar, to succeed Albayalde.

Malacañang previously said Duterte is looking for someone who is “honest” and “competent” to lead the PNP.