How time flies. Twenty-five years ago, on Nov. 28, 1999, barely 12 days after my appointment as the eighth Chief of the PNP, I was at the forefront of this organization’s two-pronged battle: one directed against criminal gangs and syndicates – robbers, kidnappers, drug lords and the like; and with equal intensity and vigor, I was also training our guns on what I had labeled then as the ICUs within our ranks: the Inept, Corrupt and Undisciplined policemen, especially focusing on the so-called kotong cops, or mulcting policemen on the streets preying on hapless motorists, public utility vehicles and vegetable dealers who had to shell out portions of their daily earnings as part of their daily ordeal.
I believed then as I still believe now, that for an organization to properly do its job and accomplish its goals, there is no better way than to leading its members with AID, meaning Aptitude, Integrity, Discipline. Yan po ang antidote.
I still remember while the PNP at the time was enjoying the trust and approval of many Filipinos, tinanong ako ni President Estrada kung kailan ako mag-retire. Sabi ko sa kanya since under the PNP Law, four years ang tenure ng Chief PNP, sa Nov. 16, 2003. Sabi niya, sabay tayo bababa sa June 2004.
As he had promised, sabay nga kaming bumaba. Kaya lang, hindi June 2004 kundi January 2001. In a strange twist of fate, I found myself filing my certificate of candidacy to become an elected senator of the Republic, continuously serving three terms or 18 years, interrupted for three years from 2013 to 2016 by the two-term limit provision under the 1987 Constitution.
My police aide-de-camp then was a young and dashing police officer. Usually quiet and reserved, but noticeably observant and efficient: then P/Insp Jose Melencio Nartatez. He is now in the Command Group as the 2nd most senior police officer sa seniority.
Fast forward a year later in 2000, some civic-minded private citizens, bankers, finance managers and anti-crime advocates, in a display of appreciation to the services rendered by the police to their communities all over the archipelago, conceived of forming and actually putting up a PNP Foundation by tapping generous donors to provide the seed money designed to be held in perpetuity, utilizing only the interest earnings to provide equipment and logistical support to its one and only beneficiary or recipient of donations – the PNP.
And today is one of those many occasions that your foundation has given out albeit in our own small and humble way some equipment, supplies to a number of PNP units. As we the members of the Board of Trustees look at each other during our board meetings and other related activities, we cannot help but notice that nobody among us is getting any younger, which is actually an euphemism for getting old.
And this is one of the reasons why we are currently looking for equally enthused individuals to carry the torch of the PNPFI and move on to the next 25 years. I assure those who may be interested that it is very fulfilling and self-gratifying to experience the task that we are currently performing.
With that being said, today is one of those self-fulfilling endeavors. Thank you very much and have a great day ahead.
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