Degamo warns cops of being bodyguards to politicians

CEBU, Philippines — “I don’t want to see policemen being used, or allowed themselves to be utilized as bodyguards or goons by politicians in certain localities,” declared Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo during a meeting with police officials at the Capitol on Wednesday.

Degamo, without naming names, told the chiefs of police stations in the province not to allow local chief executives to dictate or influence them in their mandates. “You know better than the politicians as far as your work is concerned,” he said to them, as he also urged the mayors to support the police force in logistics instead so they could perform better.

The governor’s meeting with the 20 chiefs of police stations in the province was also attended by Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office (NORPPO) Director Senior Superintendent Edwin Portento, and the commanders of the 704th and 705th maneuver companies of the Philippine Army.

Five police station chiefs failed to attend due to earlier engagements: Those from Canlaon City, the towns of La Libertad, Ayungon, and Bindoy, and Guihulngan City who was expected to present an update of the investigation on the killing of Councilor Paul Edison Dela Rita.

Degamo also issued a stern warning against abusive police officers, so as not to put a stain on the name of the institution. He encouraged them instead to deliver the services expected of them for the betterment of Negros Oriental, specifically in sustaining the conflict development-ready status of the province.

Degamo also directed Superintendent Jonathan Pineda, chief of the Dumaguete City Police, to enhance the intelligence gathering of the police to apprehend and jail suspected gun for hires in the southern part of the province.

The governor specifically called the attention of Chief Inspector Michael Aydoc, Bayawan City Police chief, to submit the documents to the court regarding the case of the ambush of civilians including a barangay councilman last month.