Duterte designates Danao as PNP OIC

President Rodrigo Duterte has designated Police Lieutenant General Vicente Danao Jr. as officer-in-charge of the Philippine National Police (PNP), according to Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Thursday.

“Yes that's true,” Año told GMA News Online in a message when asked to confirm information regarding Danao's designation as PNP OIC.

Danao will replace Police General Dionardo Carlos, who will retire on May 8, 2022, a day before the national and local elections.

Also confirming the appointment, acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar said the Palace was confident that Danao "will continue efforts to transform the PNP into a more dynamic and more professional organization, performing its mandate of serving and protecting our people."

First order

In a statement, Año emphasized the importance of Danao’s appointment considering that his leadership will start a day before the May 9 elections.

“As OIC of the PNP, Danao’s first order of the day is to ensure that all security preparations are in place and all police units are mobilized and on alert so that the country will have a peaceful, orderly and honest elections,” he said.

Año said Danao, as commander of the National Security Task Force on National and Local Elections, has been involved in the planning and security preparations for the polls since the start.

“His designation as PNP OIC will not affect the ongoing security preparations being implemented by the PNP as he will be able to provide good leadership and direction to the entire police force for them to be able to fulfill their peacekeeping role in this important time of our country’s history,” he said.

Año said he is expecting that the new PNP OIC will further intensify the ongoing campaign against criminality and lawlessness, terrorism, illegal drugs, and all forms of criminality.

Under Article 7 Section 15 of the Constitution, the president can only order temporary appointments within 60 days before the national elections.

Carlos was appointed PNP chief — the seventh under the Duterte administration — on November 12, 2021. —KBK/VBL, GMA News