elgatonegro
March 14th, 2005, 07:47 AM
Lomibao assumes top PNP post today
Will swear on Bible in turnover ceremony
Posted 00:32am (Mla time) Mar 14, 2005
By Luige del Puerto, Christine Avendaņo
Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Published on page A1 of the Mar. 14, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
HE MAY love to carry a .45-cal. pistol, but it will be a Bible he will have in his hand when Deputy Director General Arturo Lomibao assumes command of the Philippine National Police today.
And, instead of accepting the traditional saber as a symbol of his authority, Lomibao will get a copy of the Philippine Constitution and the PNP Code of Ethics proscribing, among other things, involvement in politics, corruption and womanizing.
"I was overwhelmed. It is a very awesome responsibility," Lomibao told the Inquirer shortly before Malacaņang announced he was taking over command of a 120,000-strong force trying to overcome perceptions that it was deeply corrupt.
Even before the Palace announcement, Lomibao had already known the past few days that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had picked him to be the successor to outgoing PNP Director General Edgar Aglipay.
"Before that, at the back of my mind, I [already] prepared myself to do what I'm supposed to do ... If I'd be appointed, I'll do my best," he said.
His appointment also came as a virtual advance wedding gift for the 54-year-old longtime nemesis of rebel groups.
A widower, Lomibao plans to remarry before his birthday in July, the Inquirer has learned.
"The new chief will swear on a Bible. We are a civilian [organization] now," a senior official said, stressing this would mark a break with the PNP's militaristic past.
"Since he is a Christian, he will swear on the Bible. If he were a Muslim, then it would be the Holy Koran," he said.
God-centered
At today's turnover ceremony at Camp Crame police general headquarters at 11 a.m., Aglipay will hand over to Lomibao a copy of the Constitution and the Code of Ethics.
"We are already discarding the military way. This is a break from tradition. The saber connotes [something] military," the official said.
The gesture would also emphasize the PNP's effort to transform itself into a "God-centered organization," he said.
The Bible and the Code of Ethics carry more than just symbolic power.
The PNP -- along with the Armed Forces -- is one of the institutions at the top of the Commission on Human Rights' list of abusers.
Ms Arroyo will be the guest of honor at the turnover rites.
Gil to NSC
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye made the announcement of Lomibao's appointment in an informal text message to media organizations.
Bunye also announced the appointment of PNP Deputy Director General Virtus Gil as the new deputy national security adviser.
Gil is the deputy chief for administration in the PNP. He was among those said to be contending for the chief PNP position.
Last week, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Ms Arroyo was looking at seven contenders for the PNP top position.
These were Lomibao, Gil, Director Avelino Razon (regional director for National Capital Region), Deputy Director Generals Reynaldo Velasco (deputy chief for operations) and Ricardo de Leon (chief of Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force), Director Rolando Garcia (head of the Philippine Center for Transnational Crimes) and Oscar Calderon (director for Region 4-B).
Words of advice
Aglipay briefly met with Lomibao in the morning to offer advice before the announcement was made.
The PNP needs to focus on equipping its members, Lomibao told the Inquirer.
"We should improve on the mission-essential equipment," he said, referring to logistics needed by policemen to move, shoot, communicate and investigate effectively.
"[We should improve] specially on the investigation side," he said. "It is not enough to give them equipment. They should be trained well."
Transforming the PNP
He added: "So we need both hardware and software. We should attend to this first."
Lomibao also said he would continue the PNP's 5-year transformation plan, which he helped draft as head of the directorial staff.
"There is already a time plan for everything," he said. "What will happen is basically a continuation of what Aglipay has started."
For example, the retraining of undisciplined police officers in Subic would continue, he said.
Lomibao described himself as an official who prefers to consult other officials when crafting long-term plans.
Working by consensus
"I utilize my staff. That's one thing about me. I want consensus," he said.
"I create ideas. I let my people work on it, and after they work on it, then we fine tune the ideas."
He said he preferred involving other people in making plans. It is the reason a leader has people under him, he added.
"That's the only way. If you just implement without getting them involved, without getting the best out of their minds, they will not be passionate in implementing [the programs]," he said.
Prepare for crises
With his "exposure in operations and intelligence work," Lomibao believes he is prepared to make quick assessments and the right decisions in times of crisis.
An official close to Lomibao said he already had top positions in mind for his fellow contenders.
Reached on the phone, the rival contenders promptly sent their congratulations to Lomibao.
Right choice
"It was a wise decision of the President," said Razon.
"General Lomibao is a very competent officer. He deserved the promotion. He deserved to get the post," he said.
Velasco said he had already congratulated Lomibao.
Aglipay said Ms Arroyo had "made the right choice."
"Lomibao is a very competent officer. He is very responsible," Aglipay said.
Lack of professionalism
Responding to accusations of a lack of professionalism in the police force, Lomibao said the law had defined the powers of his organization.
"(The law) says the local executives have the authority to select the town, city or provincial police directors," he said.
"But this is also in line with the devolution principle of the local government code ... because we are already part of the civilian government, no longer with the military," he said.
But he admitted that there were concerns that, at times, local executives "may not have the wisdom to select the best."
Director Lucas Managuelod, who retired Friday, had criticized the high level of politicking in the organization.
Managuelod said that because of partisanship, officers were chosen based on political leanings and not on merit and qualifications.
Will swear on Bible in turnover ceremony
Posted 00:32am (Mla time) Mar 14, 2005
By Luige del Puerto, Christine Avendaņo
Inquirer News Service
Editor's Note: Published on page A1 of the Mar. 14, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer
HE MAY love to carry a .45-cal. pistol, but it will be a Bible he will have in his hand when Deputy Director General Arturo Lomibao assumes command of the Philippine National Police today.
And, instead of accepting the traditional saber as a symbol of his authority, Lomibao will get a copy of the Philippine Constitution and the PNP Code of Ethics proscribing, among other things, involvement in politics, corruption and womanizing.
"I was overwhelmed. It is a very awesome responsibility," Lomibao told the Inquirer shortly before Malacaņang announced he was taking over command of a 120,000-strong force trying to overcome perceptions that it was deeply corrupt.
Even before the Palace announcement, Lomibao had already known the past few days that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had picked him to be the successor to outgoing PNP Director General Edgar Aglipay.
"Before that, at the back of my mind, I [already] prepared myself to do what I'm supposed to do ... If I'd be appointed, I'll do my best," he said.
His appointment also came as a virtual advance wedding gift for the 54-year-old longtime nemesis of rebel groups.
A widower, Lomibao plans to remarry before his birthday in July, the Inquirer has learned.
"The new chief will swear on a Bible. We are a civilian [organization] now," a senior official said, stressing this would mark a break with the PNP's militaristic past.
"Since he is a Christian, he will swear on the Bible. If he were a Muslim, then it would be the Holy Koran," he said.
God-centered
At today's turnover ceremony at Camp Crame police general headquarters at 11 a.m., Aglipay will hand over to Lomibao a copy of the Constitution and the Code of Ethics.
"We are already discarding the military way. This is a break from tradition. The saber connotes [something] military," the official said.
The gesture would also emphasize the PNP's effort to transform itself into a "God-centered organization," he said.
The Bible and the Code of Ethics carry more than just symbolic power.
The PNP -- along with the Armed Forces -- is one of the institutions at the top of the Commission on Human Rights' list of abusers.
Ms Arroyo will be the guest of honor at the turnover rites.
Gil to NSC
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye made the announcement of Lomibao's appointment in an informal text message to media organizations.
Bunye also announced the appointment of PNP Deputy Director General Virtus Gil as the new deputy national security adviser.
Gil is the deputy chief for administration in the PNP. He was among those said to be contending for the chief PNP position.
Last week, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said Ms Arroyo was looking at seven contenders for the PNP top position.
These were Lomibao, Gil, Director Avelino Razon (regional director for National Capital Region), Deputy Director Generals Reynaldo Velasco (deputy chief for operations) and Ricardo de Leon (chief of Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force), Director Rolando Garcia (head of the Philippine Center for Transnational Crimes) and Oscar Calderon (director for Region 4-B).
Words of advice
Aglipay briefly met with Lomibao in the morning to offer advice before the announcement was made.
The PNP needs to focus on equipping its members, Lomibao told the Inquirer.
"We should improve on the mission-essential equipment," he said, referring to logistics needed by policemen to move, shoot, communicate and investigate effectively.
"[We should improve] specially on the investigation side," he said. "It is not enough to give them equipment. They should be trained well."
Transforming the PNP
He added: "So we need both hardware and software. We should attend to this first."
Lomibao also said he would continue the PNP's 5-year transformation plan, which he helped draft as head of the directorial staff.
"There is already a time plan for everything," he said. "What will happen is basically a continuation of what Aglipay has started."
For example, the retraining of undisciplined police officers in Subic would continue, he said.
Lomibao described himself as an official who prefers to consult other officials when crafting long-term plans.
Working by consensus
"I utilize my staff. That's one thing about me. I want consensus," he said.
"I create ideas. I let my people work on it, and after they work on it, then we fine tune the ideas."
He said he preferred involving other people in making plans. It is the reason a leader has people under him, he added.
"That's the only way. If you just implement without getting them involved, without getting the best out of their minds, they will not be passionate in implementing [the programs]," he said.
Prepare for crises
With his "exposure in operations and intelligence work," Lomibao believes he is prepared to make quick assessments and the right decisions in times of crisis.
An official close to Lomibao said he already had top positions in mind for his fellow contenders.
Reached on the phone, the rival contenders promptly sent their congratulations to Lomibao.
Right choice
"It was a wise decision of the President," said Razon.
"General Lomibao is a very competent officer. He deserved the promotion. He deserved to get the post," he said.
Velasco said he had already congratulated Lomibao.
Aglipay said Ms Arroyo had "made the right choice."
"Lomibao is a very competent officer. He is very responsible," Aglipay said.
Lack of professionalism
Responding to accusations of a lack of professionalism in the police force, Lomibao said the law had defined the powers of his organization.
"(The law) says the local executives have the authority to select the town, city or provincial police directors," he said.
"But this is also in line with the devolution principle of the local government code ... because we are already part of the civilian government, no longer with the military," he said.
But he admitted that there were concerns that, at times, local executives "may not have the wisdom to select the best."
Director Lucas Managuelod, who retired Friday, had criticized the high level of politicking in the organization.
Managuelod said that because of partisanship, officers were chosen based on political leanings and not on merit and qualifications.