Marcos Jr. at PNP command conference: Not a loyalty check

MANILA, Philippines —  It was not a loyalty check but an admonition to strengthen focus on addressing criminality, the country’s national police chief said yesterday of his first command conference with President Marcos at Camp Crame, amid rumors of destabilization attempts.

Marcos arrived at Camp Crame before 11 a.m. and presided over a meeting with Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. and senior police officials for about an hour.

During the meeting, Acorda said they briefed the Chief Executive on the PNP’s operational accomplishments under his administration.

Security was tight around Camp Crame, which was placed on lockdown until Marcos left the police camp. Media coverage was not allowed during the meeting.

“No, I don’t consider it as a loyalty check,” Acorda said at a briefing when asked about the agenda for the command conference. “He wants us to really focus on our crime solution efficiency, which he recognized as something we have achieved.”

He noted that Marcos earlier had similar command conference with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) at Camp Aguinaldo.

“Actually, this is his first time and on the part of the PNP, we are very much happy for him to preside over our command conference,” Acorda said.

But he admitted assuring Marcos that the PNP is solidly behind his administration, and that the institution is faithful to its mandate of maintaining peace and order as well as preserving the rule of law.

He stressed that nothing was discussed about destabilization, although he said the Chief Executive mentioned something about rallies by certain groups, which he did not identify.

Cause oriented groups and other organizations are expected to assemble on Feb. 25 for the 38th anniversary of the EDSA people power revolution.

In a statement, the Presidential Communications Office said the President directed the PNP to improve its communications capability as he expressed concern over its reported low equipment capacity.

The PCO said the PNP is still far from satisfying at least half of its requirement for communications equipment as of Feb. 14. The police force posted a 32.05 percent fill-up for digital radio, 33.98 percent