Mar to PNP: No 'bata-bata' system under my watch

MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas assured performing members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) that they would be recognized and rewarded because the “bata-bata” and “padrino” systems in the police force will have no chance under his watch.

Roxas gave the assurance during the 111th anniversary celebration of the PNP Police Service held in Camp Crame, Quezon City yesterday, when he encouraged the 148,000 police personnel nationwide to work with him in addressing several big challenges the PNP is facing.

He enumerated the first three concerns as the widening sense of rising criminality, the upcoming elections and the emerging role in support of the peace process, and the most intractable and recurring long-term problems of jueteng, illegal drugs and illegal logging.

“The days of ‘padrino,’ or patronage system at the expense of the institution and of others are over,” Roxas said in Filipino during the event, his first since he assumed the post as DILG chief.

“There will be no ‘bata-bata’ system during my watch. If you perform and deliver, you will have my support. That is the basis of my leadership. We will measure performance objectively and give incentives and rewards based on these measurements. Nothing less. Nothing more,” he said.

Roxas noted that the promotions of personnel would be based on performance, discipline, and dedication to duty.

He is also hoping to establish a system in the PNP that rewards good performance and reprimands erring members.

“Let’s remove the image of being abusive and corrupt. Let’s restore the citizens’ trust in the force,” he said, as he quoted PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome as saying policemen should observe “serbisyong may pagkukusa” (service with purpose).

Peace and order

The DILG chief said the public must have “freedom from fear” and the sense of security and safety as he ordered the PNP to strengthen its anti-crime effort.

“First and most immediate is the widening sense of rising criminality. Metro Manila alone, according to records, experienced a 57 percent increase in crime as of June,” he said.

At the same time, Roxas said the PNP should also prepare for the upcoming elections and the emerging role in support of the peace process. He said the police should be ready to address or prevent election-related violence.

The elections in May 2013, he said, would test the principle of every policeman.

“If you will be given money to favor certain candidates, would you accept it or stick to the right path, professionalism and sworn duty as police officers?”

MILF framework agreement

Roxas described the framework agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as “a moment of historic opportunity.”

“Today is historic not only because the PNP police service is marking its 111th anniversary but (because) our government and the MILF agreed on how to proceed on the road to peace,” he noted.

The DILG chief said the agreement would mean a new and fresh beginning.

“Forty years and a hundred thousand lives have been shed in this long struggle for peace in Mindanao. But now we are on the cusp of true, lasting peace,” he said.

He urged the PNP and the public “to savor the moment because that will fuel us in the tremendous job that is expected of the DILG and the PNP on the road to peace.”

He said the local government and the PNP would be playing a vital, pivotal role in the success of this peace process.

Big tsinelas

With the tasks ahead, Roxas admitted he has a huge responsibility in filling up the “tsinelas (slippers)” left by the late DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo.

Although still in grief, he said Robredo’s death and memories should “serve as inspiration for us to perform our tasks with excellence, honesty and sincerity.”

Taking a cue from President Aquino’s pronouncement that the first freedom is freedom from hunger, Roxas said the second freedom is freedom from fear, which lies in the hands of the PNP.