Acorda’s term as PNP chief extended

BY JOCELYN MONTEMAYOR and VICTOR REYES

GEN. Benjamin Acorda Jr. will remain the chief of the Philippine National Police until March next year, Malacañang said yesterday.

Acorda was supposed to retire last Sunday when he reached the retirement age of 56 but President Marcos Jr. extended his term until March 31, 2024 after he “successfully led the police force since his appointment in April this year,” the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said.

Acorda expressed his “deepest gratitude” to the President for extending his term.

“I am truly honored and humbled by his continued trust and confidence in my capability,” he said during a flag ceremony at the PNP national headquarters in Camp Crame in Quezon City.

Acorda, a former PNP director for intelligence, assumed the top police post on April 24 last year, replacing Rodolfo Azurin Jr, the first PNP chief appointed by Marcos.

There were indications his term has been extended as Acorda was in Marawi City on Sunday after the bombing at the Mindanao State University, that left four people dead and about 50 others injured.

PNP spokeswoman Col. Jean Fajardo said Acorda thank senior police officials for their continued support during a command conference in Camp Crame after the flag ceremony.

“We all know that from April (when Acorda assumed as PNP chief) up to the time prior to December 3, our Chief PNP had a good performance,” said Fajardo.

The PCO said the extension of Acorda’s term was based in Executive Order No. 136, series of 1999, which recognizes the power of the President to approve the extension of service of presidential appointees beyond the compulsory retirement age for exemplary meritorious reasons.

The PCO said Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. was informed of Marcos’ decision through a transmittal letter, dated December 1 and signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin. The PNP is an attached agency of the Department of Interior and Local Government.

PCO said under Acorda’s leadership, the PNP focused “on an agenda for a more effective police force such as the Personnel Morale and Welfare, Community Engagement, Integrity Enhancement, ICT Development and Honest Law Enforcement Operations.”