Aquino names Marquez new PNP chief

MANILA (PNA) -- Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Mar Roxas II on Tuesday announced that President Aquino namedPolice Director Ricardo Marquez as the new chief of the 155,000-strong Philippine National Police (PNP), replacing officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina who is set to retire on Thursday.Marquez, was PNP director for operations where he oversaw the implementation of security preparations for Pope Francis' visit last January and Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit 2015 meetings.Marquez, member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1982, also served as regional director for Ilocos and provincial director for Nueva Ecija.He bested five other contenders to be thehead of PNP, namely Deputy Director General Danilo Constantino, chief of the directorial staff Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo, deputy PNP chief for operations dismissed Chief Superintendent Raul Petrasanta Police Director Benjamin Magalong, Crime Investigation and Detection Group chief and Police Director Juanito Vaño, directorate for logistics head.The new PNP Chief will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 on August 26, 2016.Meanwhile, Espina will bow out of police service on July 19 but will have his retirement honors on July 17, Thursday, when he is also expected to pass command to the new PNP chief.He took over the leadership of the PNP in December when erstwhile PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima was suspended and eventually dismissed over his alleged involvement in the P100-million questionable contract with a private gun courier service firm in 2011. (PNA)CTB/CLTC