Año to submit shortlist of candidates for PNP chief April 30

From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 16, 2021): Año to submit shortlist of candidates for PNP chief April 30 (By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año (File photo)

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año on Friday said he will submit the names of three ranking officials as candidates for the next chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) by the end of April.

"Wala pa akong recommendation. Sa last week pa ng April ako mag submit kay PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte). Three names pa din. (I have no recommendation yet. I will be submitting a list by the last week of April to President Rodrigo R. Duterte. There will be three names in it)," he said in a message to the Philippine News Agency Thursday.

The DILG chief declined to give the possible names on his list but observers said these could be most likely the ranking officers of the PNP command group who are known for their seniority and competence.

PNP chief, Gen. Debold Sinas will retire from the service on May 8.

Other members of the PNP command group include Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, deputy chief for administration; Lt. Gen. Cesar Hawthorne Binag and Lt. Gen. Joselito Vera Cruz, chief of the directorial staff.

Binag, however, will retire from the service on April 24 while Eleazar will retire on November 13.

Eleazar, Binag and Sinas belong to the Philippine Military Academy Hinirang Class of 1987.

Año formally returned to work on Friday after going on a three-month medical leave.

He started his medical leave on January 11 this year to fully recover from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

He extended his medical leave on February 2 and made another extension in March.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1136962