Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benhur Abalos halted the reshuffle of some senior officers in the Philippine National Police on Tuesday.
Abalos stated that the reassignment of eight high-ranking Philippine National Police officials announced on Monday was "currently just a recommendation" and would not take effect until further notice.
In a statement, he said that processes are to be followed and the list of officials should be submitted to the National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) for confirmation and shall be subjected to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s approval.
On June 26, PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. reshuffled eight generals, including the regional director of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).
Maj. Gen. Robert Rodriguez, head of the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management, and Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Peralta, the fourth in command as acting chief of directing staff, signed the reassignment orders.
A simultaneous transition and assumption ceremony was set in Camp Crame on Tuesday morning, with Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, PNP's No. 2 as acting head for administration, serving as the presiding officer, but it was pushed back to late afternoon before being called off.
Abalos, who serves as Napolcom chair, cited Section 6(3)(f) of Napolcom Memorandum Circular No. 2019-001, which states that "the assignment or designation of the [concerned positions] shall be submitted to the Commission for confirmation prior to the submission of the same to the President for approval."
