Officially sworn in
PNP OIC Archie Gamboa has officially been sworn in by President Duterte as the country's next PNP chief. Gamboa has been the OIC of the PNP for several months now after former PNP chief Oscar Albayalde resigned because of the ninja cops controversy. Gamboa has hit the ground running since being appointed OIC. He strictly enforced rules especially those concerning the police themselves like banning the playing of golf on weekdays. I think that should have been a no-brainer by the previous chiefs. He revived the "Battle of the Bulge" among overweight cops. Although I don't know if it was implemented or even heeded by the many overweight policemen. The campaign to make police officers fit has been done before with no tangible results.
Gamboa said he will continue the war against illegal drugs but will implement policy changes. He will review the findings of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee on the ninja cops and hopefully gain an insight into what has to be changed. His marching orders from DILG Sec. Año is to cleanse the ranks of the PNP. We throw our support behind the new PNP chief in an endeavor that couldn't be achieved by previous chiefs. The war on drugs might well start with identifying these ninja cops which surely are not confined to the group in Pampanga. If illegal drugs are not being resold on the street, we may actually see a reduction. The image of the PNP is still much to be desired by the majority of the people. Hopefully, PNP chief Archie Gamboa will improve that.
Another thing Gamboa wants to create is a Chinese desk in the PNP. With the influx of so many Chinese nationals in the POGOs, construction, and even illegal businesses like restaurants, it brings with it a crime wave that adds to the burden of the PNP. Chinese nationals are being victimized by kidnappers and extortionists. Prostitution dens that serve solely Chinese nationals have been raided. It is still unclear how many Chinese have entered the country illegally with the possibility of them carrying drugs not far-fetched. And how long before these Chinese criminals or syndicates start victimizing Filipinos? I believe the kidnapping of a Filipino was recently thwarted by the police. These are what we now have to deal with due to the administration's openness to anything China. A red carpet welcome was even given to the commander of the Chinese Coast Guard with one of their vessels docking in Manila Bay. I wonder how our fishermen, the ones chased away by the very same Chinese Coast Guard, feel about this. And after all the pressing of flesh and niceties are done, how will they now treat our fishermen when they try to make a living on waters that are even part of our exclusive economic zone?
A Chinese desk is all good, especially if Chinese counterparts can help in recognizing syndicates and how they operate. But this is really one thing the PNP does not need; crime elements from a country said to be our friend.
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