BY MIGUEL GUIMBATAN JR.
BAGUIO CITY – Director General Avelino Razon Jr., new chief of the Philippine National Police, will return administrative and operational control of the police provincial offices of Kalinga and Apayao to the Cordillera regional police office.
Apayao Rep. Elias Bulut Jr. bared this last week saying Razon approached him and other Cordillera congressmen during the Dept. of Interior and Local Government budget hearing telling them the temporary directive transferring the operational control of Kalinga and Apayao police offices to adjacent Cagayan Valley Region would be rescinded.
“The PNP chief assured us that he will order the return of Kalinga and Apayao PNP to the Cordillera, but we also welcome a closer coordination and cooperation between Cagayan and Cordillera regions especially in the boundary areas,” Bulut said.
Bulut said the earlier transfer might have been caused by crimes and criminals operating on the boundary areas.
“Definitely, Cordillera and Cagayan Valley police will have to initiate a working relationship as neighbors whereby Cagayan Valley police can come to Kalinga and Apayao and likewise in solving crimes but not a turn-over of offices,” Bulut said. “The PNP Cagayan Valley Regional Director was with PNP Chief Razon during the budget hearing and he agreed.”
It was barely a month after retired PNP chief Oscar Calderon issued General Order DPL 07-11 dated Aug. 30, effective immediately placing Kalinga and Apayao provincial police offices under the administration, operational, supervision and control of PRO 2 ( Cagayan Valley region).
Calderon cited proximity as basis because Cagayan is adjacent Kalinga and Apayao.
Cordillera leaders led by the congressmen immediately opposed the transfer claiming the PNP chief failed to consider politico-legal, socio-cultural and economic considerations before issuing the order.
Other Cordillera leaders claimed there was no consultation prior to the disintegration move.
The Cordillera Peoples Liberation Army led by Mailed Molina also questioned the transfer claiming the disintegration move runs counter to agreements entered by the government and the Cordillera people to ensure peace in the region.
Cordillera regional police director Chief Supt. Eugene Martin said he did not receive any order yet for the return of Kalinga and Apayao to the Cordillera but he said the two provincial police offices are still under the administrative control of PRO-CAR except operational supervision which is under PRO-II or Cagayan Valley .
Last week, the crime laboratory facility of Kalinga was turned over to Region 2 police under Regional Director Chief Supt. Ameto Tolentino.
National Police Commission regional director Rodolfo Santos Jr. bared difficulty in supervising Kalinga and Apayao if operational supervision will remain with Cagayan valley.
He also cautioned other line agencies that if the PNP can segregate a fraction from the Cordillera region, this will not prevent other line agencies in disintegrating the Cordillera back to its mother regions.
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