Incoming PNP chief Marquez: It was unclear at first if PNoy really chose me  

Incoming Philippine National Police chief Director Ricardo Marquez only learned of his new designation Monday, but he was initially not sure if President Benigno Aquino III had chosen him for the post.

 

“Yesterday (Monday), I was brought by the good Secretary (Mar Roxas) to Malacañang for a final meeting with the President,” Marquez told reporters during a press conference Tuesday where his appointment was announced.

 

Asked if it was the President who informed him of his new designation, Marquez answered in the affirmative but admitted it was unclear to him at first.

 

“May mga bilin siya, mga implied naman. Di namin matantiya ni Sec. Mar kung ako na [nga] ba. (Ang sabi ni Presidente) ito haharapin mo, ito susuungin mo. Puro implied lang,” he said.

 

“[Sa] latter part na lang ng conversation nung kausap niya (Aquino) sina Sec. Mar at Executive Secretary (Paquito Ochoa). Sa casual conversation lang nina Executive Secretary Ochoa namin nasiguro,” he added.

Credible polls

 

Asked if the President had a hard time deciding who to name as the new PNP chief, Roxas, for his part, said Aquino wanted someone whose term will not end before the elections because he wants to leave a legacy that a credible polls happened during his term.
 

“Napakaselan ng prosesong ito, isa sa pinakamabigat na kinonsidera ng Pangulo ay ayaw niyang matapos ang term ng isang uupo bago ang eleksyon. Ang gusto niyang maiwan sa kanya ay to have a legacy of a credible election,” Roxas said.

 

“Napakahirap ng desisyon ito dahil kung sino ang mamumuno sa PNP sa halalan pero sa kalagitnaan nito ay magre-retire at ang uupo ay hindi naman leader ng PNP sa paghahanda baka mahirapan. Isa ito sa konsiderasyon ng Pangulo,” he added.

 

Marquez will retire in late August 2016, or three months after the elections.

 

“Siya ang itinalagang chief PNP sa paghahanda at pagtatalaga ng mga preparasyon sa halalan, siya rin ang magdedeliver ng maayos at mapayapang eleksyon,” said Roxas.

 

The DILG secretary likened the President's decision to choosing someone to marry.

 

“Syempre marami kang girlfriend pero isa lang ang pinili mong pakasalan. What important is he is the choice. Sa dulo nitong lahat, of course, nasa Pangulo ang kapangyarihan na pag-aralan ang kakayanan ng lahat, sa huli nagdesisyon siya na si Marquez ang italaga na chief PNP,” he said.

 

Roxas said President Aquino first met Marquez last year when there was a report that a passenger onboard a plane to Manila was positive with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus.

 

“During Holy Week last year, everybody were already on vacation, merong balita na merong Pilipinong pabalik ng bansa na nagpositibo sa MERS-Cov. Si Director Marquez ang nagtrack dun sa 100 passengers na maaring naka-interact ng pasyente. It turns out mali ang information pero doon siya unang nakilala ng Pangulo. Sa palagay ko magmula noon, sinubaybayan na siya ng Pangulo,” he said. — RSJ, GMA News