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 Secretary Eduardo 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]

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."^{[lower-alpha 1][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."^{[lower-alpha 2][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."^{[lower-alpha 3][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.^{[lower-alpha 4][37][38][39]} On May 20, President Duterte also announced that Sinas will not be dismissed or transferred.^[40]