Espina rallies PNP behind new chief

MANILA, Philippines, July 14 (PNP) — Retiring Police Deputy Director General Leonardo A. Espina, Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) urged the 155,000-strong officers and personnel of the national police force to rally behind the new Chief PNP who will assume command of the PNP upon his retirement on Thursday.

For the last time in his active service, Espina attended the traditional Monday flag-raising ceremony at the PNP National Headquarters in Camp Crame to bid farewell to the troops.

In his brief message, he thanked the PNP Officer Corps and rank and file for their support during his 7-month incumbency as PNP-OIC.

“I could not have hurdled it successfully without you assisting me in every step of the way, Maraming, maraming salamat po sa inyong lahat,” Espina said.

“I urge all of you to just continue serving our people, because we owe it to them,” he said.

“I will be retiring on Thursday. I will be handing over the command leadership to the next Chief PNP who will be appointed by the president. Tuloy-tuloy ang ating trabaho at serbisyo bearing the motto always Service, Honor and Justice,” Espina concluded.

During the same ceremony, Espina conferred the Performance Governance System Compliant Status to PNP Units that have successfully completed the Compliance Stage of the Performance Governance System (PGS) for PNP P.A.T.R.O.L Plan 2030.