President Marcos holds command conference with PNP

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos presided over a command conference at the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame yesterday to discuss the state of peace and order in the country.

Among those present at the command conference were PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos and Presidential Adviser on Military and Police Affairs Roman Felix.

Malacañang had not released as of last night details of the meeting, which took place days after 35 police officers in Davao City were relieved from their posts following the deaths of seven drug suspects.

It also came weeks after former senator Antonio Trillanes IV alleged that two police generals were plotting to destabilize the government and oust President Marcos.

‘No loyalty check’

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo, however, said Marcos’ first PNP command conference under Marbil is not a loyalty check.

Fajardo said the meeting was part of the President’s duty to visit law enforcement agencies, citing the command conferences with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) presided over by Marcos, the last of which was with the Navy on Monday.

Fajardo said the meeting had nothing to do with supposed ouster move against Marcos.

In an interview last month, Marcos said he does not see the need to conduct loyalty checks among the active members of the PNP and AFP amid reports of destabilization plot against his administration.

Aside from the PNP’s campaign against crime, a source said the issue of the Philippine offshore gaming operator hub in Bamban, Tarlac was also discussed at the meeting.

Last month, Trillanes said the active police officials are working with retired PNP officers and members of former president Rodrigo Duterte’s Cabinet to oust Marcos.

“As far as the PNP is concerned, we have not monitored any information of recruitment to oust the President,” she said.

Marbil discussed with Marcos the country’s peace and order situation and the campaign against crime.

Fajardo said the crime volume in the country has decreased by 18.3 percent, from 15,834 from January to May 7, 2023 to 12,937 in the same period this year. —