Egay Aglipay at Malacanang at Oath
Taking for his fourth star.
Newly installed Philippine
National Police (PNP) chief Deputy Director General Edgardo Aglipay
will keep his post until March next year, thanks to President
Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who yesterday extended for "at least
six months" his tour of duty with immediate orders to clamp
down on the illegal drug trade, terrorism and corruption in the
police service.
Aglipay formally took over
the police command from Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr.,
incoming National Security Adviser, during a ceremony at Camp
Crame in Quezon City.
"I believe having
a lawyer like General Aglipay at the helm of the PNP can do much
in the professionalization and institutionalization of our reforms.
For this reason, I am extending the term of the PNP chief to serve
for the period of at least six months," Arroyo said.
Aglipay was supposed to
serve as PNP chief for only less than a month, or until he reaches
the mandatory age of 56 on Sept. 13.
The President, meanwhile,
awarded Ebdane, who retired three months ahead of schedule to
give way to Aglipay, the Philippine Legion of Honor with the degree
of commander.
In her speech, the President
said the six-month extension of Aglipay’s term would "enable
him to get our plans off the ground, institutionalize our gains
in law enforcement, and have a strong start in the things that
have to be done to truly professionalize our police force."
Arroyo expressed confidence
that Aglipay, equipped with his sterling police record and lawyer
abilities, would be able to carry out her campaign promises to
the people.
"These are my marching
orders: make us more secure, help strengthen our families, stamp
out corruption, stop the scourge of drugs and wipe out terrorism."
She said the war against
drugs was "halfwon" during the stint of Aglipay as head
of the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force. "I’m
sure he will be even more successful as head of the whole PNP."
The President likewise
directed Aglipay to implement rigid punitive and preventive actions
to purge the perceived widespread corruption in the police.
Aglipay was also ordered
to craft an "organized framework of actions" similar
to his previous work plans in resolving the terror bombings in
Mindanao last year.
"To be able to accomplish
them, we need to consolidate and integrate law enforcement, provide
linkages between law enforcement and all areas of national security,
strengthen criminal justice and place it with the overall framework
of economic and political stability," the President said.
Aglipay, a member of the
Philippine Military Academy Class 1971, earned a master’s
degree in business administration at the University of the Philippines
and a law degree at the Ateneo de Manila University. He also obtained
a master’s degree in military arts and sciences at Fort
Leavenworth in the United States. (By
Genalyn D. Kabiling)
