Rewards for good cops, penalties for the bad

ILOILO CITY, Philippines — As he assumed the post of director of the Police Regional Office-6, Chief Supt. Agrimero Cruz, Jr. vowed to execute the leadership that he is known for: Quick to praise but swift to punish.

In all the units he had commanded, Cruz said he was known to be particularly keen to discipline. “But to a similar extent, I am most liberal and fair when it comes to the morale and welfare of the officers and men under my command,” he said.

Cruz said good deeds and exemplary performance will be quickly acknowledged with appropriate reward, but slipped work and misbehavior will be swiftly corrected with disciplinary and remedial measures under PNP rules and regulations.

He also vowed that criminal cases involving PNP personnel, arising from service-related circumstances, will be given due consideration and appropriate legal assistance.

In his first order of business, Cruz said he would implement action priorities guided by the 10-point action program of PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome. “My action priorities will be radical but necessary, difficult but doable, and decisive but fair,” he said.

Cruz also said he will carry out the deployment of one policeman per barangay, periodic performance audit, and enhancement of morale and welfare projects.

Under his leadership, Cruz said there would be no immediate and drastic changes in the current operational directions on law enforcement, maintenance of peace and order, and internal security operations. PRO-6 would work to ensure that the ideal peace and order condition shall prevail in order for all developments to take shape, he said.

Cruz further vowed to pursue results-oriented anti-criminality campaign by maximum use of resources, but he admitted that oftentimes this is hindered by shortage of well-trained operatives. As such, he said that all policemen—from rookies to senior officers—will be required to undergo refresher training in basic police intervention skills.

As part of the intentional security operations strategy, Cruz urged policemen to make use of barangay information network (BIN) and continue to relocate sparsely-manned outposts and detachments, then consolidate these into strong and forward posts. — (FREEMAN)