Regional police recruitment officers axed

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Debold Sinas has ordered the relief of all officers of the Zamboanga peninsula police’s recruitment service section (RSS) due to alleged anomalies.

Sinas said he wanted the relieved officers and personnel transferred to the West Philippine Sea police station, which is manned by only three officers.

The order was issued after Sinas presided on Saturday over the command turnover for incoming regional police director Brig. Ronaldo Genaro Ylagan and outgoing chief Brig. Gen. Jesus Cambay Jr. at Camp Romeo Abendan in Barangay Mercedes in this city.

The relief of the RSS officers was part of the PNP’s cleanup campaign and in line with President Duterte’s order to fight corruption, drugs and smuggling, Sinas said.

Sinas did not elaborate on the alleged anomalies committed by personnel of the regional police recruitment services section, which he once served.

Meanwhile, Cordillera police director Brig. Gen. RWin Pagkalinawan dissolved the regional drug enforcement unit (RDEU) after its operatives were tagged in the kidnapping of a 25-year-old man.

The RDEU officers were reportedly seen on footage of a closed-circuit television camera taking Harjan Lagman, whose decapitated body was found in a ravine in Tublay, Benguet on Nov. 12.

The victim’s head has yet to be found.