The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) experienced various changes in 2022.

The entry of a new Administration, under newly-elected President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., meant that the two organizations also gained new leaders.

PLTGEN VICENTE DANAO JR.

PLtGen. Vicente Danao Jr. temporarily served as officer-in-charge of the PNP.

Outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte designated Danao, then-chief of the PNP Directorial Staff and Deputy Chief of Operations, to lead the national police force after PNP Chief PGen. Dionardo Carlos reached the mandatory age of retirement on his 56^th birthday on May 8.

Then-Department of Interior and Local Government Sec. Eduardo Año Jr. explained that the Constitution prohibits President Duterte from issuing a permanent appointment 90 days before a Presidential election.

Danao remained as the top officer of the PNP until Incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. named PGen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. as the new PNP chief. Following his appointment, Azurin reshuffled the hierarchy of the PNP which resulted in the designation of Danao as head of the Area Police Command – Western Mindanao.

PGEN. RODOLFO AZURIN JR.

On August 1, President Marcos named Azurin as the new top cop of the PNP. Prior to his appointment, Azurin served as the commander of the Northern Luzon Police Area. Azurin, a graduate of the Philippine Military Academy ‘Makatao’ Class of 1989, also served as the commander of the Southern Luzon Police Area.

During the 121st Police Service anniversary at Camp Crame on August 8, President Marcos described Azurin as a 'well-rounded' officer.

"I am confident that we have chosen the right leader in his person to head the PNP so that it continues to evolve, continues to grow, and develop into a well-balanced institution, effective and capable of steadfastly rendering faithful service to our sovereign nation and all its citizenry," the President said during his speech.

LT. GEN. VICENTE BACARRO

President Marcos has also appointed Lt. Gen. Vicente Bacarro as the new Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Bacarro, a graduate of the PMA Maringal Class of 1988, succeeded his classmate Gen. Andres Centino. Prior to his appointment as AFP Chief of Staff, Bacarro previously served as commander of the AFP – Southern Luzon Command. He also served as spokesperson of the AFP and headed the Public Affairs Office in Camp Aguinaldo.

The late President Cory Aquino conferred the Medal of Valor to Bacarro for his actions during a 10-hour encounter with ‘150 fully-armed communist terrorists’ in Maconacon, Isabela in 1991.

“Let us sustain our current level of discipline and our strict adherence to the rule of law to elements that have helped us gain the respect of our countrymen. Further, let us strive to maintain if not to surpass our ability to be more effective and credible defenders of our country,” Bacarro urged the AFP during his assumption speech in Camp Aguinaldo last August 8.

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 11709

Prior to stepping down from the Malacanang, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11709, which has an impact on the leadership of the AFP. RA 11709, signed April 13, sets a three-year-long fixed tour of duty for key positions in the AFP, which includes the Chief of Staff, Vice-Chief of Staff, the Deputy Chief of Staff, the Philippine Army Commanding General, the Philippine Air Force Commanding General, the Philippine Navy Flag Officer in Command, unified command commanders, and the inspector general, ‘unless sooner terminated by the President’.

The law seeks to enhance professionalization in the AFP by strengthening the merit system, allowing the new leadership a longer period to implement reforms and institutionalize sound policies that will redound to the improvement of the organization.

The AFP welcomed the legislation of RA 11709 and expects that the law will bring stability to the military organization.

“This shall make the AFP a more efficient and effective organization and will contribute to the realization of our vision of a more credible Armed Forces which is a source of national pride,” said Col. Ramon Zagala, then spokesperson of the AFP.

Bacarro became the first AFP Chief of Staff to benefit from the fixed tour of duty set by RA 11709.

CONTROVERSIES

Aside from changes, the PNP and the AFP also had to contend with several controversies and issues that popped up in 2022. These issues include the case of the missing cockfighters, the murder of media personality Percy Lapid, and confrontations with Chinese vessels in contested waters.

JEFREY PEREZ

A court delivered a guilty verdict to two police officers involved in the death of two teenagers in 2017 during the height of the campaign against illegal drugs initiated by the Administration of former President Duterte.

In a decision dated November 10, the Caloocan City Regional Trial Court Branch 122 found PO1 Jefrey Perez and PO1 Ricky Arquilita guilty of the violation of Republic Act No. 9745 for torturing Carl Angelo Arnaiz, and Reynaldo De Guzman.

The court also found the two police officers guilty of violating RA 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, for planting evidence.

The court sentenced Perez and Arquilita to reclusion perpetua or up to 40 years in jail without parole and ordered them to pay Php 2 million each to the kin of the victims.

However, only Perez will serve the sentence as Arquilita died in 2019 while in jail due to suspected hepatitis B.

Court records show that a witness identified Perez and Arquilita as the two cops who shot Arnaiz and De Guzman, who were 19 years old and 14 years old when they passed away in 2017, while handcuffed.

The witness also testified that the cops planted illegal drugs and a pistol in the body of Arnaiz.

Azurin said that the PNP respects the decision made by the court against Perez, who was dismissed from service in 2018, and Arquilita.

"The decision was a result of a fair full-blown trial hence, we believe that the accused was given his day in court to present his side. Nevertheless, any acts committed by erring personnel do not reflect the views of the whole PNP organization,” Azurin said in a statement.

JOSE ANTONIO SANVICENTE

A driver of a white sports utility vehicle earned the ire of the public after video footage showed him running over a security guard in Mandaluyong City on June 5, and fleeing rather than helping his victim.

The driver, later identified as Jose Antonio Sanvicente, will later surrender to the authorities, and appear at a press conference on June 15, 10 days after the incident, at the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

The PNP drew flak over the press conference as critics assailed the national police for allegedly showing special treatment to the Sanvicente family. The PNP also received criticism for allowing the SUV driver to leave and not arresting him after the press conference.

PCol. Jean Fajardo, the spokesperson of the PNP, explained that the police have no legal grounds to apprehend Sanvicente due to the lack of an arrest warrant against him. Fajardo added that Sanvicente can no longer be subject to warrantless arrest because of the period of time that lapsed since the hit-and-run incident.

Danao also became a topic of controversy over his alleged 'unpleasant remarks', and his refusal to get interviewed by members of the media.

The PNP Press Corps believes that the 'apparent enmity' of the acting PNP chief to members of the press stemmed from the social media backlash received by the police over the surrender of Sanvicente. The group urged Danao to review the news reports 'for his guidance and enlightenment'.

"Nevertheless, we appreciate the effort of PLTGEN Danao to reach out to us to clarify and settle the issue, the same way we fully understand his decision to beg off any media interview for now," the PNP Press Corps said in a statement.

PERCY LAPID

On October 3, the death of Percival Mabasa, also known as Percy Lapid, rattled every Filipino journalist. Mabasa passed away after motorcycle-riding suspects shot the veteran broadcast at the gate of BF Resort Village, Las Piñas City.

To immediately resolve the case, PNP formed the Special Investigation Task Group Lapid. Interior and Local Government Sec. Benjamin Abalos also offered a reward worth Php 500,000 in exchange for information that will lead to the arrest of the killers. The bounty further grew after House Speaker Martin Romualdez announced an additional Php 5 million reward.

The case will gain headway following the surrender of Joel Escorial, who confessed to the murder of Lapid. Escorial also revealed that the order to kill the broadcaster from a person inside the New Bilibid Prison.

Murder charges have been filed against suspended Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gerald Bantag, BuCor Deputy Security Officer Ricardo Zulueta, and several persond persons deprived of liberty for the murders of Lapid and Villamor.

Authorities suspect that Bantag ordered the death of Lapid for his exposes against the BuCo On October 3, the death of Percival Mabasa, also known as Percy Lapid, rattled every Filipino journalist. Mabasa passed away after motorcycle-riding suspects shot the veteran broadcast at the gate of BF Resort Village, Las Piñas City.

E-SABONG

Throughout 2022, the PNP faced issues regarding the operations of online cockfighting, also known as e-sabong. The issue reached its peak when sabungeros or cockfighters went missing. At least 34 cockfighters have already gone missing across Luzon in 2022, and authorities have yet to find them.

Public alarm over the missing cockfighters forced the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs to conduct hearings regarding the operations of e-sabong. Then Senate President Vicente Sotto also proposed that the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. suspend the operations of e-sabong operators.

In a memorandum dated March 8, Malacanang ordered the PNP and the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a thorough investigation of the missing cockfighters. Then-Executive Sec. Salvador Medialdea also directed the two agencies to submit their findings to the Office of the President and the DOJ within 30 days from the issuance of the order.

Amidst the search for the missing cockfighters, several police faced charges and dismissal from their post due to their involvement or after being implicated in e-sabong operations. The PNP relieved PCol. Rogart Campo as police provincial director of Laguna due to allegations that he received Php 1 million from businessman Atong Ang.

PNP-CIDG has also filed criminal cases against five police officers linked to the abduction of Ricardo Lasco, a master agent of e-sabong. PSSgt. Dartl Paghangaan, Pat. Roy Navarete, PLt. Henry Sasaluva, PMSgt. Michael Claveria, and Pat. Regil Brosas face charges of kidnapping/illegal detention and robbery. Reports state that witnesses have identified the cops as the people who entered the house of Lasco.

The suspects allegedly introduced themselves as NBI agents and arrested Lasco for large-scale estafa in 2021 in San Pablo City, Laguna. The suspects also took the belongings of the victim and his family. The suspect has been placed under the restrictive custody of the Regional Holding and Accounting Unit of the CALABARZON Regional Police Office.

PLTCol. John Kevin Menes also face charges for estafa and illegal gambling. Authorities found Menes being held at a betting station in Sta. Mesa, Manila after accruing debts worth Php 15,000. Police reports also show that Menes pawned a car owned by another policeman.

The PNP implemented a crackdown on all e-sabong operations after then-President Duterte ordered a stop to the said gambling activity upon the recommendation of the Department of Interior and Local Government. President Duterte, initially, allowed e-sabong operations to continue due to the revenue generated by the activity. Data from PAGCOR show that the government collected around Php 3.69 billion from the operations of eight e-sabong licensees from April to December 2021.

ABDUCTIONS

Aside from the missing cockfighters, the PNP had to resolve numerous other cases of missing individuals and abductions that went viral on social media.

These cases include:

• The death of Princess Marie Dumantay.

Authorities found the body of Dumantay at a grassy area in Bustos, Bulacan, on August 12, a week after she went missing. Police have already apprehended the suspect Gaspar Maneja Jr. in Pamplona, Camarines Sur.

• The death of Princess Diane Dayor

Dayor, a 24-year-old industrial engineer, went missing on July 2. Police found her body on July 5 in the boundary of Guiguinto and Malolos in Bulacan. Authorities apprehended the suspect, later identified as Darwin Hernanez, in Guiguinto.

• The death of Eugene Del Rosario

Several personalities abducted Del Rosario on August 16 at a gasoline station in Taal, Batangas. Two days later, authorities found his body in Sariaya, Quezon. Police have already filed kidnapping and homicide charges against seven suspects.

• The death of Jovelyn Galleno

On August 23, police found skeletal remains in Brgy. Santa Lourdes, Puerto Princesa. A DNA test matched the remains of Jovelyn Galleno, who was reported missing on August 5.

Police have filed rape with homicide against Leobert Dasmariñas and Jovert Valdestamon, the cousins of the victim. Dasmariñas was the one who also informed the authorities of where to find the remains of Galleno.

• The disappearance of Eduardo Tolosa Jr.

Tolosa, a pharmaceutical executive, went missing on July 19.

CCTV footage showed him alighting a vehicle in front of a restaurant along C5-SLEX. Five individuals, including a minor, later surrendered to the authorities and confessed to the murder of Tolosa. The suspects said that they received orders to bury the remains of Tolosa. Afterward, they also received instructions to burn the remains, which made it difficult for authorities to conduct a DNA test. Kidnapping for ransom, murder, and arson charges have been filed against 11 suspects involved in the disappearance of Tolosa.

Amidst the proliferation of these cases in social media, PNP warned that some of the viral videos showing alleged abductions either happened in the past or happened in another country. PBGen. Joel Doria, chief of the PNP- Anti-Cybercrime Group, suspects that these recycled videos or pictures seek to create a 'picture of an unstable government'. Doria has ordered PNP-ACG to take down such fake pictures and videos of alleged crimes.

The PNP has also managed to foil several kidnapping attempts. Police officers managed to stop an attempted kidnapping of a Malaysian national in Tarlac. Authorities apprehended five suspects, including a Malaysian national.

Police also managed to rescue a Malaysian woman kidnapped by Chinese-Malaysian national and a Filipino national. Reports state that the suspects held the victim at a house in Carmona, Cavite, and demanded 26,000 Malaysian Ringgit from her family in exchange for her freedom. Authorities rescued her during an operation at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

WEST PHILIPPINE SEA

As for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the presence of Chinese vessels in contested waters continues to cause an issue.

The Western Command (WESCOM) said that the Chinese Coast Guard 'forcefully' retrieved a metallic found floating near Pag-asa Island.

In a statement, Vice Admiral Alberto Carlos said that the Naval Station Emilio Liwanag (NSEL) discovered the object on November 20, and proceeded to the area in order to investigate. NSEL personnel retrieved the object and attempted to tow it back to the station. However, WESMINCOM said that a CCG vessel blocked the course of the NSEL personnel. The CCG vessel then deployed a rigid-hulled inflatable boat that cut the towing line and brought the object to its mothership.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has filed a protest over the actions of the CCG vessel. Meanwhile, China insists that the Filipinos handed over the object, identified as debris from a Chinese missile, after a friendly consultation.

WESCOM also reported a successful resupply mission to the BRP Sierra Madre, a grounded vessel in the Ayungin Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, on December 17. WESCOM said that the resupply mission proceeded even after a CCG vessel challenged and followed the supply boats of the Philippines.

"The Chinese radio challenges would claim that the sea area near the Philippine ship is 'under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China,' that they are allowing supplies to be delivered, and warned that bringing construction materials will be dealt with," WESCOM said.

Reports state that the Philippines has completed 11 resupply missions for the troops stationed at the BRP Sierra Madre.