Police Director Ricardo Marquez is now the new Philippine National Police Director and will replace PNP officer in-charge Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina as the leader of the 160,000-strong police force.
Before being announced as the head of the Philippine National Police, the Police Director Ricardo Marquez is the former head of the Directorate for Operations.
During a speech, the newly-appointed Police Chief was quoted as saying “With all humility and full of gratitude to President Aquino and Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, I am accepting the challenge to lead the 160,000 strong men and women of the PNP,” Marquez said in a hastily called press briefing at Camp Crame on Tuesday.
According to the new PNP Chief, before he was appointed as the head of the PNP, he served as the Task Force Commander in-charge of the security of Pope Francis during his visit to the Philippines last November 2011.
The new PNP chief also revealed that he only learned of his appointment, when DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, took him to Malacanang to meet the President and Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa.
The native of Maragondon, Cavite, General Ricardo Marquez will don the four-star rank of Director General when he formally assumes office as PNP chief during a change of command ceremony on Thursday.