President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to announce by Tuesday the next chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Duterte made the pronouncement in his prerecorded Talk to the People aired Tuesday morning over state-run PTV-4.

This, after Interior Secretary Eduardo Año submitted the names of police officials who are qualified to succeed outgoing PNP chief Gen. Dionardo Carlos.

“Binabantayan nila kung sino ang next PNP chief (They are awaiting who will be the next PNP chief). I assure you that I will act upon the recommendation of Secretary Año,” Duterte said.

Duterte said he is still reviewing the list of PNP officials who could be the next PNP chief.

“I will review the whole recommendation pati ‘yung ano ang nagawa nila, ‘yung the whole biodata ng mga contender, and the history of their previous na trabaho nila sa gobyerno (and what they have done, the whole biodata of the contenders, and the history of their previous work in the government),” he said.

Carlos is stepping down from his post on May 8 after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 56.

On Wednesday, Año said he had forwarded to Duterte the names of two officials who could be Carlos’ successor.

Among the officials who can succeed Carlos are Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia, PNP’s No. 2 man as the deputy chief for administration, and Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao, the PNP’s No. 4 man as chief of the PNP Directorial Staff.

The PNP’s No. 3 man, PNP deputy chief for operations Lt. Gen. Ferdinand Divina, retired on Monday or six days before the scheduled retirement of Carlos. (PNA)