As chief of the Bukidnon Provincial Police Office based in Malaybalay, Gamboa initiated programs to significantly reduce crime and stifle the communist insurgency in the province.[5] He was again reassigned in Camp Crame as chief of the Legislative Affairs Center under the PNP Directorate for Plans in 2007 and as chief of the Logistics Resource Management Division under the PNP Directorate for Logistics until 2008. Gamboa then served briefly as chief of the Regional Comptrollership Division of the Caraga Regional Police Office in Butuan until 2009.[2]
Gamboa's other early leadership positions with the national police include serving as chief of the Budget Division of the PNP Directorate for Comptrollership in 2012 and sitting as chief of the Bids and Awards Committee Secretariat Division of the PNP Directorate for Logistics in 2013.[2] Between 2013 and 2015, Gamboa was assigned with the Calabarzon Region Police Office in Calamba, Laguna as regional chief of the Calabarzon PNP Directorial Staff and then as the regional police's Deputy Chief for Operations. As a Calabarzon PNP executive, he initiated measures to achieve a zero backlog in administrative cases of erring personnel using his lawyer skills and experience.[5] Gamboa earned his one-star rank while serving as Executive Officer of the PNP Directorate for Logistics in 2015.[3]
Gamboa then served as deputy director for the logistics directorate before taking on the role of Director for Comptrollership in 2016. As comptrollership chief, he was frequently seen representing the Philippine National Police in budget hearings in the Philippine Senate and House of Representatives.[6] He was also credited for reinstating the combat duty pay and combat incentive pay for PNP personnel and the specialist pay for the Internal Affairs Service and the Maritime Group as comptrollership director.[5] He earned his three-star rank in March 2017 when he was appointed as Chief of the Directorial Staff, the fourth-highest position within the Philippine National Police.[2]
In September 2018, Gamboa became the third-highest ranking PNP official when he was promoted as Deputy Chief for Operations.[2] As deputy chief, he served as task force commander for the 2019 Philippine general election who also oversaw the security preparations and implementation of the 2019 Bangsamoro autonomy plebiscite.[5] He also helped with the internal cleansing drive of the national police by implementing preventive, punitive and restorative measures within the organization amid criticisms of the Philippine Drug War.[5] He was again promoted as Deputy Chief for Administration in October 2019 and became PNP's second-in-command.[2]
Chief of the Philippine National Police
Following Oscar Albayalde's resignation on October 14, 2019 amid the ninja cops controversy, Gamboa was appointed by Interior SecretaryEduardo Año to serve as officer in charge of the Philippine National Police, being the second-highest officer in the organization.[3] While the position of PNP Chief remained vacant for months after Albayalde's resignation, President Rodrigo Duterte had tasked Secretary Año to supervise, lead, fix and purge the scandal-ridden national police while Gamboa stays as officer in charge.[1] On January 17, 2020, Duterte officially announced his appointment of Lieutenant General Gamboa as PNP Chief.[6][1]
On March 5, 2020, Gamboa survived the crash of a Bell 429 police helicopter.
As then Acting PNP Chief, he was responsible for the overall police preparations during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.[7]
On March 5, a Bell 429 helicopter carrying Gamboa and seven other police officials crashed after it hit power cables just after takeoff in San Pedro, Laguna. Gamboa was conscious when he was pulled out from the wreckage; he suffered injuries on his shoulder and right hand and was brought to St. Luke's Medical Center in Taguig. However, two police generals who accompanied Gamboa were in critical condition after the crash, while the others had minor injuries. Gamboa and his entourage had just finished inspecting a facility for impounded vehicles in San Pedro and were on their way to Camp Vicente Lim in nearby Calamba when the crash occurred.[8][9][10] LGen Camilo Cascolan, the Deputy Chief for Administration, was the officer-in-charge of the PNP while Gamboa recovered from his injuries.[11] On March 9, Gamboa reported back to work wearing a sling on his right arm.[12]
On March 16, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Luzon and its associated islands were placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) by President Duterte, while a state of public health emergency was earlier declared for the whole country.[13] To enforce the ECQ, the PNP had set up checkpoints to limit non-essential movement and travel. On March 17, Gamboa announced that people on non-essential travel will be arrested if they insist on passing through the checkpoints. He also acknowledged the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPEs) for the police officers manning the checkpoints.[14] On March 31, Gamboa announced that the nationwide crime rate was reduced by 56% which he attributed to the implementation of the ECQ.[15]
Gamboa tested negative for COVID-19 on April 1, after possible exposure to the disease, as Interior Secretary Eduardo Año tested positive the previous day. Despite having no recent meeting with Año, Gamboa underwent a 14-day quarantine and did not show any symptoms of the disease.[16]
On April 21, Gamboa announced that those who will violate the ECQ in Luzon will not be warned anymore—instead, they would be immediately arrested and undergo inquest proceedings, citing the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.[17] Explaining the change in policy, Gamboa said: "We need to do this because we also want to mitigate the continued risks faced by frontline PNP personnel who are exposed to increasing number of people and motorists violating the ECQ at checkpoints." At that time, at least 55 PNP personnel have tested positive for COVID-19, while 136,517 people were recorded to have violated the ECQ (of which 31,363 have been arrested, 6,168 fined, and 98,986 were issued warnings).[18][19] Two days later, he reconsidered his statement saying that more arrests will congest the prisons, some of which already have cases of COVID-19. He said that violators can be required to do community service or fined instead of being detained, explaining that the violators must be punished "to a certain degree" so they would understand the seriousness of the situation.[20]
On April 21, Winston Ragos, a retired soldier with PTSD, was fatally shot by PMSg Daniel Florendo Jr. at a checkpoint in Quezon City. Ragos, who was scolded for violating the ECQ, allegedly attempted to pull out a gun after a heated argument with the police officers. The incident was filmed by a CCTV and phone camera and the footage went viral online.[21][22][23] In an interview on CNN Philippines' The Source, Gamboa reacted to the incident: "According to the report, [Ragos] tried to draw his firearm. That's why it resorted to the decision, which was really a judgment call on the part of Florendo on what to do at that very moment". Gamboa also added that the police officers had "no way of knowing" Ragos' mental illness.[22] In a separate interview with ANC, Gamboa explained: "When you are confronted with a person armed with a pistol, its equivalent is also a pistol. When we are confronted with an armed aggressor or a suspect—because a lot of policemen have already died—actually my instruction is really don't let the other person go first."[23] Nonetheless, Gamboa assured that an investigation is underway, and that the PNP is in communication with the Commission on Human Rights, adding: "We have to know all the facts. We sympathize with the family of Ragos, but please give the PNP the trust that we will investigate this case thoroughly."[22] On April 24, Master Sergeant Florendo was charged for homicide.[24]
On April 26, a police officer and a foreigner were involved in a scuffle in Dasmariñas Village, Makati after the officer attempted to arrest the foreigner for allegedly violating the quarantine rules. Spanish expatriate Javier Parra claimed that Senior Master Sergeant Roland Von Madrona wanted to fine him for allowing his housemaid to water plants outside without wearing a face mask—a supposed violation of ECQ guidelines. Madrona and Parra had a heated argument, with Madrona later tackling Parra to the ground in an attempt to arrest him. The incident was filmed by Parra's wife, while Parra eventually escaped into his house (he later revealed he had a pre-existing spinal injury). The police denied Parra's accusations, with a separate video showing Madrona attempting to speak calmly with Parra, who yelled expletives and ordered the police to leave. Madrona's superior also denied that the officer attempted to fine Parra's housemaid, but rather he was going to issue her a ticket violation.[25][26] The following day, General Gamboa ordered the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) to investigate the incident.[26][27] Reacting to the aforementioned incident, Gamboa defended the actions of PSMS Madrona, saying: "You saw how big the foreigner is compared to the policeman … based on the video, it is very clear that enough force was applied."[a][28][29] Gamboa later visited Madrona in Makati to personally thank him: "We're behind you. You showed the Filipino people that policemen are not partial; we are impartial. [We're here] to show them that what Madrona did was right, and I hope this message gets across to everybody."[b][30]
On May 1, Gamboa announced that the PNP is open to investigations regarding alleged human rights violations committed by officers enforcing the ECQ.[31]
On May 12, photos of NCRPO chief Debold Sinas celebrating his birthday on May 8 went viral and drew flak online for allegedly violating the ECQ ban on mass gatherings and liquor. The photos were uploaded by the NCRPO's official Facebook account and were later removed.[32][33][34] Gamboa defended Sinas, saying: "No party took place", explaining that it was a mañanita (early morning birthday serenade) which is a tradition among PNP officials. Gamboa also added: "General Sinas said they observed social distancing. I don't think there's any violation here."[c][33][34] Gamboa was then accused of double standards in punishing ECQ violators.[34] On May 14, Gamboa announced that the PNP Internal Affairs Service (PNP-IAS) will investigate Sinas and his guests.[35] The next day, Sinas and 18 other officers were charged with violating the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.[36] However, on May 18, Gamboa announced that Sinas will not be dismissed or suspended, describing him as "hard to replace". Gamboa explained his decision: "I hope the public would understand because we're in an emergency situation", citing that Sinas is in charge of several COVID-related programs.[d][37][38][39] On May 20, President Duterte also announced that Sinas will not be dismissed or transferred.[40]
Awards
Gamboa received more than 100 medals and citations throughout his military and law enforcement career,[5] including:
Medalya ng Katangitanging Gawa (PNP Outstanding Achievement Medal)
Medalya ng Katapatan sa Paglilingkod (PNP Distinguished Service Medal)
PMA Alumnus Award
Footnotes
^Full quote in mixed Tagalog and English: "Nakita 'nyo naman siguro, your honors, kung gaano kalaki 'yung foreigner compared sa policeman. So really, it will depend. Pero nakita 'nyo naman he was able to subdue the suspect pero medyo nahirapan siya. So based on the video, it is very clear that enough force was applied."[28]
^Full quote in mixed Tagalog and English: "Nandito lang ako sa likod mo. You showed the Filipino people that policemen are not partial; we are impartial. [Nandito kami] para ipakita sa kanila na yung ginawa ni Madrona ay tama, and I hope it gets across everybody this message."
^Full quote in mixed Tagalog and English: "Walang party ang nangyari, ang sabi ni General Sinas. Probably nagkaroon ng mañanita, pero doon sa mañanita, ang sabi ni General Sinas, is inobserve pa rin nila ang social distancing. I don't think may violation ito"[33]
^Full quote in mixed Tagalog and English: "Yes. I hope the public would understand kasi nandito tayo sa emergency situation. Pag palitan mo siya, we will never know. Napakahirap palitan dahil ang dami niyang programa in relation to COVID."[37]
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