THE country’s No. 2 police official was assigned by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on Sunday as the officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Philippine National Police (PNP), pending the appointment of a permanent replacement to Gen. Benjamin C. Acorda, Jr. whose retirement has taken effect.
Designated as OIC of the PNP, through a memorandum signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, was Lieutenant General Emmanuel B. Peralta, the PNP’s deputy chief for Administration.
Mr. Marcos in December last year extended the term of Mr. Acorda as PNP chief even as the latter reached the mandatory retirement age of 56. Mr. Acorda was first appointed to the post in April 2023.
A ceremonial turnover of command is scheduled at the PNP Headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Monday.
Mr. Acorda, a member of Philippine Military Academy Class of 1991, in November last year expressed hope that his successor would have a longer tour of duty to sustain projects of the police force.
“As far as I am concerned, a longer tour of duty would be better, especially because of the current system when it takes time to request for funds,” he said at that time.
Mr. Acorda stepped down amid mounting concern on deaths related to the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign, with the Dahas project from the University of the Philippines Third World Studies Center reporting that there had been at least 10 drug-related killings from Mar. 16 to 23, eight of which were confirmed to have been committed by state agents.
It had recorded 165 drug-related deaths in the last six months of 2023, and 29 each in January and February 2024. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza
