MANILA – President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has extended the term of Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Rommel Francisco Marbil until the end of the 2025 midterm elections.
According to the Presidential Communications Office, the four-month extension will be effective on February 7, his supposed retirement day.
A memorandum signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin stated that President Marcos approved the extension of Marbil’s government service beyond the compulsory retirement age of 56.
President Marcos previously said there is a “very strong argument” to keep Marbil as PNP chief beyond his mandatory retirement for stability’s stake.
“It would not be good for stability, especially to change the chief PNP in the middle of a campaign period and approaching an election period,” Marcos said.
“I think that is probably a very strong argument to keep him on. At the very least, until after the elections,” he added.
A member of the Philippine Military Academy’s “Sambisig” Class of 1991, Marbil was named as the country’s top cop on April 1, 2024.
In a statement, Marbil thanked President Marcos “for trusting and having confidence in the PNP under my leadership.”
“The four months extension will help us refine and improve the preparations we made for the election,” Marbil said in an interview with Philippine News Agency./PN
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