Miriam: Bacalzo for senator, why not?

Police Director General Raul Bacalzo, the current head of the Philippine National Police (PNP), is very much qualified to run for senator . . . and should do so in 2013. This was according to Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, who was guest of honor during Monday’s PNP flag-raising ceremony in Camp Crame, Quezon City. “He (Bacalzo) is an amazing person because he is not only a lawyer, but also a police Director General, and also a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)," Santiago said in her speech during the ceremony. “If this is the quality of your Chief PNP, I must tell President [Benigno] Aquino [III] that in 2013 elections, General Bacalzo should be one of the administration’s candidates for senator," Santiago added. Santiago said she had known Bacalzo when he was a law student and she was a regional trial court judge. Bacalzo, who will reach the mandatory retirement age of 56 in September, finished his law degree at the University of the East and placed 12th in the 1984 Bar examinations. He obtained his doctorate degree at the Bicol University. If ever Bacalzo runs — and wins — a senatorial seat, he will be the second ranking police official to become a senator after Sen. Panfilo Lacson, also a former PNP chief. However, despite Santiago’s endorsement, Bacalzo appeared disinterested in any government post, saying he intends to become a teacher when he bows out of police service. “Thank you ma’am for your endorsement, but my plan is to become a teacher after my retirement," Bacalzo told Santigao at a press conference where Santiago’s endorsement was again tackled. - KBK, GMANews.TV