ni ROSE NOVENARIO
KINOMPIRMA ni Pangulong Benigno Aquino III na nagbitiw na si Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina.
Sa ambush interview kay Pangulong Aquino sa inagurasyon ng school building sa Tarlac National High School sa Tarlac City kahapon, sinabi niya na nagsumite ng resignation letter si Espina ngunit hindi pa niya tinatanggap dahil magkakaroon ng vacuum sa liderato ng PNP.
Mananatili aniyang OIC ng PNP si Espina habang wala pang napipiling permanenteng pinuno ng pambansang pulisya.
Inamin ng Pangulo na hindi rin ikinokonsidera si Espina na italaga bilang PNP chief dahil ilang buwan na lang siya sa serbisyo at magreretiro na sa darating na Hulyo.
Maaari aniyang magtalaga siya ng bagong PNP chief bago matapos ang taon kasalukuyan.
“He did submit his resignation and ‘yung acceptance is pending on selecting his replacement. As of this time, ‘yung we are conducting various interviews and checks on the various candidates. I will beg everybody’s patience on this matter. It was not projected that we will be changing the Chief PNP at this point, in 2015. We were thinking that it would be at the end of 2015 where we would have to change the Chief PNP,” pahayag ng Pangulo.
Pinuri ng Pangulo si Espina sa ipinakitang delicadeza at pagiging marangal na police general.
“Si Director Espina is a very honorable person and he loves the institution and he loves the service, and he loves the country,” ayon pa sa Commander-in-chief.