New PNP revamp begins next month

Newly appointed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Edgar Aglipay is slated to enforce a major revamp among top officials of the 115-strong police force next month.

At a press conference yesterday, Aglipay said he is just awaiting the approval by President Arroyo and concerned agencies of his recommendation before he can announce changes that will affect mostly star-rank positions.

"There will be a few who will be retained in their position, but almost all will be reshuffled," he said.

Earlier, Aglipay said most police commanders — from city or municipal to regional levels — who have occupied their position for more than the prescribed period of two years will be replaced.

Police commanders who performed their assigned tasks dismally will also be replaced, he added.

Aglipay said the recommendations to effect changes in the police force should first go through the National Police Commission, the Civil Service Commission and Malacañang for approval.

"Pinakamatagal na siguro ang Sept. 1. I will announce the major reorganization on Monday or Tuesday," he said. However, he refused to name officers who will be affected by the revamp, saying "let’s just wait for the announcement."

Sources said the revamp, the second one declared by Aglipay, is likely to affect regional commanders as well as city and provincial directors. He earlier announced a minor reshuffle affecting several vital positions in the PNP directorial staff.

Deputy Director General Virtus Gil was named new PNP deputy chief for administration, the second highest position in the police force and Aglipay’s former post.

Gil was replaced as deputy chief for operations by Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco, who vacated the helm of the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime. Former Metro Manila police chief Director Ricardo de Leon took over as PCTC chief.

De Leon was replaced by Director Avelino Razon while Razon, who was the former chief of the PNP Directorate for Operations, was replaced by Chief Superintendent Isidro Lapena.

Aglipay said the reorganization was part of his campaign to give other capable officers a chance, and to bring back the public’s trust and confidence in the police force.

Meanwhile, Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. asked Aglipay to improve not only police visibility but the public’s accessibility to police assistance to combat street crime, illegal drugs, and kidnapping.

"Criminal syndicates have grown bolder with their illegal operations. Their activities have become sophisticated with the changes in information technology. Police visibility may no longer be enough," he said, adding that it is also important to inform the people how to reach the police during emergencies.

Villar noted that based on police statistics, a total of P3.9 million was paid to kidnappers in the first six months of 2004. He said the same set of statistics also show that a total of 23 kidnap-for-ransom victims and 16 incidents were recorded in the same period, with 28 suspects arrested and 15 still at large.

He cited that during the first three months of the year, at least 205 cases of carnapping were reported to the police. The number of cases of street crimes reached 4,912 from January to May 2004, and in the same period, police reported a total of 10,983 incidents of murder, homicide, physical injuries and rape.

"The people remain concerned about unsafe streets, burglary, carnapping, kidnapping, theft, illegal drugs and street crimes. People’s fear for their safety has risen sharply in the past few months. They do not even feel safe walking in their own neighborhood," Villar said as he urged Aglipay to formulate programs to win back the people’s trust in the PNP so they can be encouraged to play an important role in the government’s anti-crime campaign. — With Jose Rodel Clapano