PNP Police Major General Rommel Francisco Marbil attends the 5th National Task Force To End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) Executive Committee Meeting on April 04, 2024 at Heroes Hall, Malacanang Palace. Yummie Dinging, PPA pool/File

MANILA (UPDATED) — President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on Monday said there is a "strong argument" to extend the term of outgoing Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil.

PNP Chief Marbil may get term extension: Remulla

Marbil is expected to retire on February 7, 2025 upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.

But according to Marcos, it would "not be good" to shake up the PNP leadership while the country is in the middle of an election period.

Halalan 2025: Key dates, facts on Philippines' midterm elections

"There is a very strong argument that it would not be good for stability especially to change chief PNP in the middle of campaign period, and then approaching an election period," Marcos said in a chance interview.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla last week said Marbil's term may be extended for another 4 months.

Marcos on Monday mentioned a similar timeline. 

"Pinag-aaralan namin but I think that is a very strong argument to keep him on at the very least until after the elections," he said.

Meanwhile, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said the plan to extend Marbil's term is subject to the President's "absolute discretion."

Asked if such an extension is not allowed during an election period, Comelec chairman George Garcia said: "It's an absolute discretion of the President subject to his sound wisdom."

"May continuing authority po si President," he added.

Comelec spokesperson Atty. John Rex Laudiangco explained that such extension is not considered a transfer, which is prohibited and would need prior approval from the Comelec

"Lumalabas po kasi yung extension po ay hindi naman 'transfer or detail whatever of any officer or employee in the civil service' na prohibition na required ang prior approval of COMELEC po to validly effect po," Laudiangco said in a text message.

The Philippines' midterm elections is scheduled on May 12. -- with a report from Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News

For more news and features on Philippine elections, visit the ABS-CBN News' Halalan 2025 page.

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