Police Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa formally assumed post on Monday afternoon as the 23rd chief of the 205,000-strong Philippine National Police (PNP) which he had headed since October last year as officer in charge.
“Three months as OIC has made me more than ready to take on the responsibility bestowed upon myself by the Commander in Chief to lead the PNP,” he said.
Upon his assumption as chief of the PNP, Gamboa said he will continue to work harder to intensify the flagship programs of the national government in maintaining peace and order in the communities.
In his full capacity as the new PNP Chief, he noted the scaled-up thrust of the PNP leadership focusing on discipline, reform, internal cleansing, intensified campaign against criminality and illegal drugs, crime prevention, and strengthened public relations with media engagements.
“These policies and plans will remain to be the framework of my leadership, more so now that I am vested with more authority as chief PNP to pursue the flagship program on internal cleansing and organizational discipline with greater vigor and efficacy,” he said.
Gamboa is a member of the PMA Sinagtala Class of 1986 where he graduated with distinctions and awards. He earned his Bachelor of Laws degree at the Jose Rizal University in 2004.
The PNP chief had served in various posts, from being a commanding officer up to different key positions in regional and national units, particularly in the PNP National Headquarters, Southern Luzon, Caraga, and in his home province of Bukidnon.
After his stint in provincial and regional offices, he took the helm of PNP leadership from being the chief directorial staff in 2017 to deputy chief, PNP for Administration in 2019.
Hours after his assumption, Gamboa said the anti-illegal drugs campaign and the internal cleansing of the PNP will remain as his top priorities.
President Duterte gave Gamboa the marching orders to clean the PNP and pursue the antidrugs drive during his meeting with the President in Davao City, wherein Interior Secretary Eduardo Año was also present.
“He has lots of directives, but generally, if we compress it, it will deal with the two issues which I have said, vigorous antidrug campaign and then cleansing the PNP,” Gamboa said.
Meanwhile, eight people, including a Nigerian were arrested by anti-illegal drugs operatives during a series of operations in Southern Metro Manila and Cavite over the weekend.
The operations, according to Gamboa, busted a drugs distribution network that operates in the southern portion of the capital that has links with international syndicates.
During a news briefing on Monday, Gamboa identified the Nigerian as Kingsley Osita Escobi, who yielded four packs of shabu weighing approximately two kilos during a buy-bust operation in Bacoor City, Cavite.
“He is believed to have links with the notorious West African Drug Syndicate that is known for its international drug trafficking activities across Asia, Africa and Europe,” Gamboa said.
The Nigerian was among the eight people arrested by members of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group under Brig. Gen. Romeo Caramat, wherein a total of 16.5 kilos of high-grade shabu with a worth P112.2 million was seized during four separate operations in the cities of Pasay, Parañaque and Las Piñas, and Bacoor, Cavite.