Spotlight: PNP Chief Rommel Marbil's legacy as a Chief, Family Man and a devoted Catholic

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Nowadays, it's rare to meet someone who is humble enough to share what he's been doing and has done without lifting his name to the pedestal.

PNP Chief General Rommel Francisco Marbil is the 30th PNP Chief, appointed last April 1, 2024 by President Bongbong Marcos.

He is a Graduate of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) “Sambisig” Class of 1991, Marbil served on his early years as the chief of Bacoor City police (2004 to 2006), commander of the Presidential Protection Security Force of United Nations Contingent in Liberia (2006 to 2007), and chief of the Force Intelligence Division of Special Action Force (2008 to 2009).

He served as director of the Agusan del Norte police way back in 2014 until 2015. Before the pandemic, Marbil became the chief of staff of the Civil Security Group from 2019 to 2020. He led the Highway Patrol Group as its director from November 19, 2021, to August 8, 2022. He also served as the regional director of Eastern Visayas police from August 8, 2022, to May 2, 2023.

Marbil also served as the director of PNP’s Directorate for Comptrollership from May 2, 2023, to April 1, 2024, before being appointed as the new Chief of the Philippine National Police.

With just a short span of time, Chief Marbil brings a fresh perspective to his term, emphasizing innovative reforms and the restoration of public trust. He wanted to gain the trust of the Filipinos so that they will be assured that the police is ready to take care of the public security of the country.

Marbil wants to focus on how PNP can will be more advanced in the coming days, focusing on more CCTVs so that they can catch more criminals 24/7. He also wanted to digitalize all the process of getting permits and license so that people can be more productive.

Because he is one of them, he knew what is was like to be a rookie police. This is why he wanted the welfare of the policemen to be taken care of starting from their healthcare down to every legal assistance that they may need should there be a point in their lives that they will need a lawyer to protect their testimonies. Being a police is like having a life on the edge always.

He added that as years pass by, he doesn't want leave any legacy behind his name since retirement is just around the corner but what he really wants is to bring back the honor of every policemen and that everyone will trust them more and leave the past negative stories/rumors about the police behind.

PNP was in the spotlight last September 2024 because it was then that Quiboloy and Alice Guo was caught. Apollo Quiboloy, a Filipino preacher accused of sexual abuse and human trafficking in the Philippines and similar charges in the United States was caught by the PNP in the South. The process was like watching a film and kudos to the PNP for holding out and making sure that he was captured.

It was the same picture with Alice Guo who was hiding for quite some time in Indonesia.

PNP Chief Marbil said that it was meant to happen and they were guided by the Lord with all of their operations. With all of their efforts, he wanted to make sure that their men were safe and that they're doing everything under surveillance.

With his busy schedule, Chief Marbil makes sure that he has quality time with his family. His wife Mary Rose said that he is a good man. He never fails to give his quality time not only to his work but also to his family. They've been together for 27 years and they have a daughter Robyn Marie who is an Architecture major graduate. When they have time, they usually eat out or watch a movie. The couple also makes it a point to be healthy, they work out and eat healthy food to maintain a good stamina and posture.

After his retirement, is there a chance for him go run as a public servant? Chief Marbil said that he doesn't want to be part of the politics and if ever he wanted to help, he would do it in his own way. He have always wanted to become a member of the police but not as a politician. He wanted to serve and to protect until his retirement.

Chief Rommel Marbil is not only dedicated to serving and protecting the security of the people and his fellow police but also a family man and has a heart filled with faith and gratitude to the Lord and Mama Mary who, according to him, has never left his side since day one.

His call for duty, his humility, his dedication, and will to survive among other things makes him different from others.