38 Calabarzon cops transferred

CAMP VICENTE LIM, Laguna, Philippines — For failing to curb illegal drugs and gambling in their jurisdictions, 38 police officers have been transferred in the first phase of a region-wide reshuffle being implemented by the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) police.

Among those affected were a senior superintendent, 27 superintendents, two chief inspectors and nine senior inspectors.

Senior Superintendent Kirby John Kraft was replaced by Senior Superintendent Eleazar Matta as chief of the Laguna police.

Kraft, who held the post for almost seven months, was designated chief of the Highway Patrol Group-Central Luzon.

Matta, who was chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group-National Capital Region, vowed to continue the campaign against illegal drugs, gun-for-hire groups and loose firearms.

Chief Superintendent Edward Carranza, Calabarzon police director, said he has informed the local chief executives about the relief and reasignments of police officers.

The reshuffle is a routine system of the Philippine National Police, according to Superintendent Chitadel Gaoiran, spokesperson for the Calabarzon police.

Some of the officers had been holding the post for almost two years, thus they needed to be replaced and transferred, Gaoiran said.

More chiefs of police are scheduled to be replaced in the second wave of the reshuffle in the region.