CEBU, Philippines — Three senior police officers in Central Visayas have been relieved from their posts effective yesterday after they were spotted playing golf on weekdays in violation of newly-installed PNP chief General Archie Gamboa’s directive.
Gamboa did not only order the three’s relief but also warned Police Regional Office-7 director Brigadier General Valeriano De Leon that he is now “strike one.”
The three relieved officers were identified as Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Artil, who was assigned as PRO-7 comptroller; Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Bad-ang, from PRO-7 finance department; and Lieutenant Colonel Glenn Mayam, from the PNP Drug Enforcement Group.
“I have ordered last night the relief of three senior police officers in Central Visayas for violating my policy on not playing golf on weekdays,” Gamboa announced in a news briefing at the Camp Crame yesterday.
“I have ordered the reassignment of the personnel to the holding and accounting unit of the national headquarters while undergoing investigation for flagrant violation of the specific directive,” he added.
Gamboa, who took his oath as PNP chief before President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, said that the officers were seen playing golf during weekdays, which runs counter to the PNP guidelines that prohibit them from doing the same.
He said the relief serves as a reminder to his men that the directive is strictly enforced and that he is determined to implement the same as part of the organization’s internal cleansing efforts.
“They were playing there Tuesdays and Thursdays, at kung bored sila, they play on Wednesdays. That’s why I have enough basis why they should be relieved. But of course, under due process, they shall be investigated,” Gamboa said.
The top police official went on to question why De Leon “allowed this to happen under his watch,” then warning the latter that he is now “strike one.”
Gamboa, however, explained that this does not mean relief for the PRO-7 director as no parameters have been established for such move.
Sought for comment, De Leon told reporters that he accepts the PNP chief’s decision since the officers “indeed violated a clear policy” out of their own volition.
“They will be (housed) in Camp Crame to justify whatever actions they committed. They were relieved and placed in a holding unit kasi (they violated the policy),” he said.
Asked to comment on the “strike one” remark of Gamboa, De Leon said that they will always obey all instructions from the PNP chief and if his people will not cooperate, then command responsibility will always follow.
“Okay lang yan (the warning) kasi nagkasala bata natin, nagkasala din tayo (That’s fine because our men committed a violation, so we also committed a violation),” he said.
According to De Leon, he has instructed all officers to closely monitor their people and to report any action that violates the PNP chief’s orders so corresponding action could be made. JMD (FREEMAN)