DILG Secretary Eduardo Año (File photo)
MANILA – 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.
"After receiving clearance from his doctors, Secretary Eduardo M. Año is reporting back to work today. He will start by first working from home and eventually to full normal routine," DILG spokesperson, Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said in a statement.
He added that after more than three months of grueling struggle, including a heart operation, Año is well, in high spirits, and ready to reassume his duties in the agency as well as in the National Task Force Covid-19 and the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
"We thank the public for respecting his privacy the past few months and for giving him the time to rest, recuperate, and fully recover. The Department thanks all those who stormed the heavens, prayed for him, and sent messages of support during a most difficult time. We are forever in your debt," Malaya added. (PNA)
