MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – OIC no more.
President Rodrigo Duterte has chosen Lieutenant General Archie Francisco Gamboa, current officer-in-charge of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and its deputy chief for administration, to replace resigned top cop General Oscar Albayalde.
He retires in 8 months, in September.
Duterte made the announcement during a speech at the thanksgiving gathering for the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Davao City on Friday, January 17.
"I'm going to appoint you as the regular PNP (chief). But you and Secretary [Eduardo] Año and I will have a long, long talk first. Pinakita mo sa akin ang sincerity mo (You showed me your sincerity) and I'd like you to leave something (so) that you will be remembered by the country," Duterte said.
Gamboa, who was in the crowd, stood up and saluted Duterte afterward. He becomes the 23rd PNP chief.
Albayalde on October 14, 2019, resigned from his post amid accusations of negligence, if not complicity, in a 2013 Pampanga buy-bust operation back when he was Pampanga police chief – damaging the reputation of Duterte's so-called war on drugs.
Who is he? Gamboa is currently the officer-in-charge of the PNP. He is one of the more silent police officials under the Duterte administration for holding administrative posts since day one.
He was the PNP's comptroller chief from July 1, 2016 to March 17, 2017, then he served as the chief of the Directorial Staff up until September 1, 2019. For these posts, he was the PNP's frequent face for budget hearings at the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Because he was a 3-star general starting March 17, 2017, he was also a contender in replacing former top cop and now Senator Ronald dela Rosa.
Gamboa the Davao cop: Gamboa is also known as one of the "Davao cops" in the PNP's command group.
He spent 4 years and 9 months in the Davao Regional Police Office as the spokesman from December 10, 1997 to November 23, 2000, and as the deputy comptroller officer up to September 11, 2002.
During those years in Davao, he found a friend in trusted Duterte aide-turned-senator Bong Go through basketball games in the region.
Gamboa hails from Bukidnon and is a member of the PNP-ruling Sinagtala Class of 1986. – with a report from Sofia Tomacruz/Rappler.com
