Napolcom recommends Verzosa appointment to top PNP post

MANILA, Philippines - The National Police Commission (Napolcom) on Monday said it has recommended the appointment of Deputy Director General Jesus Verzosa as the next chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP). In an interview at Camp Crame, outgoing PNP chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr - who also sits as an ex-officio member of the Napolcom - confirmed Napolcom's recommendation for Verzosa to be his successor. “The Napolcom, sitting en banc of which I am an ex-officio member, has approved the resolution recommending Police Deputy Director General Jesus Verzosa to be the next Chief PNP," Razon said. The Napolcom's recommendation usually carries huge weight in the President's appointment for the top PNP post and its move to solely recommend Verzosa is regarded by many as a virtual confirmation of his appointment as the next PNP chief. Last year, Razon was also solely recommended by the Napolcom to replace then PNP chief Oscar Calderon. “Let me just point out that the resolution only recommended one name, normally it would contain three names but just like last year and now this resolution recommended only General Verzosa," said Razon. Asked why the Napolcom recommended only one, Razon said: “ Well, ang feeling ng Napolcom there should only be one candidate." Other contenders to replace Razon, who is set to bow out of service upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56 on September 29, are Police Director Geary Barias, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), and Deputy Director General Ismael Rafanan, the PNP Chief of Directorial Staff. Both Barias and Rafanan are members of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) Class 1975 while Verzosa, the current Deputy Chief for Administration or PNP’s Number 2 man, is a member of PMA Class 1976. But Razon was quick to clarify that the Napolcom resolution is not final yet as it is still up to President Gloria Macapagl Arroyo to appoint the next PNP chief. “The Napolcom recommendation is a mere recommendatory. It’s up to the President to approve. Sa ngayon wala pang approval ang President no announcement is made yet by Malacañang so we should await the announcement of the President," said Razon. Razon, however, insinuated that Verzosa would likely be the one to replace him, saying that President Arroyo mentioned in one of her speaking engagements that the decision depends on the recommendation of the Napolcom. “If you recall, the President in one of her speaking engagements, mentioned it will be the Napolcom’s recommendation and she even mentioned the name of General Verzosa," said Razon. - GMANews.TV