Palace vows to strictly monitor PNP execs’ performance

MANILA, Philippines - By sacking four Metro Manila police chiefs for their failure to curb rising criminality, the Aquino administration has shown its seriousness in addressing the problem, Malacañang said yesterday, as it vowed to strictly monitor the performance of police officers to keep them on their feet.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said alarming crime statistics justified the removal of four of the five district directors of the National Capital Region Police Office.

“These are concerted efforts to give the people peace of mind and to make them realize the government and the police force are not sleeping on the job and are in fact doing everything to ensure their safety,” Coloma said in Filipino.

Coloma said it is good that citizens are becoming active in crime prevention by reporting criminal incidents to the police.

He stressed it has been the thrust of the police leadership to encourage the public to actively take part in crime prevention.

Coloma said police work becomes easier when crimes are promptly reported to authorities.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas II on Wednesday said he had accepted the relief by NCRPO chief Director Carmelo Valmoria of Quezon City Police District chief Richard Albano, Manila Police District chief Rolando Asuncion, Southern Police District chief Erwin Villacorte and Northern Police District head Edgar Layon.

Only Eastern Police District director, Chief Superintendent Abelardo Villacorta, was retained in his post.

The new district chiefs were Chief Superintendent Jonathan Ferdinand Miano (NPD), Chief Superintendent Rolando Nana (MPD), Chief Superintendent Henry Rañola Jr. (SPD) and Chief Superintendent Joel Pagdilao (QCPD).

Roxas said yesterday the four officers removed are unlikely to get new positions soon. He also said he had not spoken to any mayors before the removal of the four officers.

He noted that the revamp has proved that the PNP takes the performance of its commanders to heart. “This now serves as a challenge to all commanders to do their best in fighting crime in their areas of responsibility,” Roxas said.

The PNP leadership earlier commended Albano for his Oplan Lambat in Quezon City, a campaign against unregistered motorcycles, usually used by riding in tandem criminals.

Bypassed

Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista, for his part, said he felt bypassed by the surprise removal of the city’s police chief.

“I believe they will officially inform me and go through the motion/process of selection and appointment anytime soon,” said Bautista in a text message to The STAR yesterday.

Under the Republic Act 6975, which placed the PNP under the Department of the Interior and Local Government, city mayors have the authority to choose the “chief of police from a list of five eligibles recommended by the provincial police director, preferably from the same province, city or municipality.”

Sought for comment, Bautista on Wednesday appeared surprised by the change, saying the PNP has yet to send him an official communication on the matter.

Nevertheless, the mayor said yesterday that Pagdilao is “warmly welcome” to serve in QC again in partnership with concurrent deputy director for administration and operations Senior Superintendent Procopio Lipana.

“He knows the workings of the district and the various concerns of the city,” Bautista said of Pagdilao.

“I hope he gets another post until his retirement from the service,” Bautista said, referring to Albano.

In May, Bautista publicly called for changes in the QCPD leadership following what he described as a “humiliating” shooting spree in Fairview that left four people dead.

“I am frustrated. I feel bad because I represent the people of Quezon City as their mayor. It’s time for changes in the QCPD,” he said in a press conference.

“I hope that the QCPD and the PNP will do what is necessary (to replace incompetent police officers) because we need to protect the image of our city and our country,” he added.

Albano took to social media to thank those who supported him in his stint as Quezon City Police chief. He said he had not been remiss in his duty to ensure peace and order in the city.

“My efforts may be humble, but I know these will never be in vain,” Albano said on his Facebook post.

“I honor the decision of our honorable DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, and I know this is but a step forward in our mission of making a difference,” he said.

Outgoing SPD chief Villacorte shrugged off his removal from post, which he assumed only in January last year.

“We come and go. It is a regular thing in the PNP,” Villacorte said. “Just waiting for orders.”

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said he welcomed the appointment of Nana as new chief of the MPD.

Estrada told The STAR over the phone that he was the one who recommended the appointment of Nana as Asuncion’s replacement.

Promotions

Meanwhile, President Aquino has approved the promotion of 11 senior police officials, including two police generals.

PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima and Roxas recommended the promotion based on the evaluation of the Senior Officers Placement and Promotion Board.

Purisima conferred the one-star rank on Chief Superintendent Manuel Gaerlan, now the executive officer of the Directorate for Personnel and Records Management; and on Chief Superintendent Efren Perez, executive officer of the Directorate for Police Community Relations in Camp Crame, Quezon City yesterday.

Nine superintendents were promoted to the rank of senior superintendent. They were Senior Superintendents Celso Bael of the Police Community Relations Group; Arthur Cabalona, PNP Finance Service; Cornelio Comila of the Police Regional Office 1, Antonino Cirujales of Police Regional Office 5, Warren de Leon of Police Regional Office ARMM, Pablo Labra II of Police Regional Office 7, Gil Francis Tria of Office of the Deputy PNP Chief for Operations, Westrimundo Obinque of Police Regional Office 3, and Ferdinand Madrilejo of PNP Health Service. – Cecille Suerte Felipe, Janvic Mateo, Jose Rodel Clapano, Mike Frialde, Reinir Padua