PNP changes Cordillera reg’l, provincial heads

‘Bato’ hits officials, LGUs doing illegal acts 

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- – A change in command was instituted by the Philippine National Police in Cordillera provinces even as PNP Director General Ronald M. dela Rosa said here there is no conflict in control and supervision of local officials over police force in their jurisdiction and supervision and control of PNP officials over their men.

“The conflict on local supervision and control of local police force by local officials only happens when local officials are involved in illegal activities that tend to compromise their efforts in implementation of government’s campaign against illegal drugs and illegal activities. If such problem exists, the PNP is authorized to remove supervision and control of local officials over the PNP in their areas but such scenarios are isolated,” dela Rosa said..

The PNP chief said local officials can invite municipal, provincial, city or regional police officials for clarification in relation to their duties and in relation to implementation of government’s priority anti-criminality campaign and peacekeeping initiatives for transparency.

Dela Rosa said local officials are their partners in government’s anti-drug, anti-criminality campaign and peacekeeping initiatives that is why there will be no conflict in control and supervision of the local police force because their primordial aim is to maintain peace and order in the country.

Dela Rosa was here as guest speaker of foundation day of Mountain Province and to grace the Lang-ay Festival.

This, as Senior Supt. R’win S. Pagkalinawan assumed post as new regional PNP director for operations replacing Senior Supt. Angelito A. Casimiro who was promoted as executive officer of directorate for logistics at PNP national headquarters.  

Last week, Senior Supt. Dominador M. Halog, also assumed as Apayao provincial PNP director in  turn-over ceremony here at regional police headquarters presided by regional police director Chief Supt. Elmo Francis Sarona.

Senior Supt. Felix Dayag, outgoing Apayao PNP director is due to retire this month. 

In Abra, Senior Supt. Rey A. De Peralta also assumed post as provincial police director in rites held at Camp Juan Villamor in capital town of Bangued.

Chief Supt. Gregorio N Lim, deputy police regional director for administration presided turnover rites.

Outgoing provincial director Senior Supt. Alexander C. Tagum will assume post as Davao City police director.

Sarona said the PNP designates positions or commands to its men not by seniority but by proven track record.

In BOntoc, Dela Rosa said the PNP wants harmonious implementation of national and local initiatives against criminality.

He said government’s aggressive anti-drug campaign is geared towards curbing the illegal drug menace that is major deterrent in realization of lasting peace nationwide.

Dela Rosa said what is important for Mountain Province and other provinces in the region that were declared drug-free is for the maintenance of their drug-free status by not allowing the re-entry of individuals who have been identified as drug pushers or users and the prohibited drugs in any part of the province so as not to taint its status.

For his part, Mountain Province Gov. Bonifacio Lacwasan, Jr. said those who were pinpointed as drug personalities in the province actually came from outside the province and that they actually sought refuge from different municipalities because of the government’s aggressive anti-drug campaign in the different parts of the country.

Lacwasan said he remains optimistic that the province will remain drug-free because of the harmonious working relationship of the provincial officials, the community residents and the law enforcers who continue to remain vigilant in curbing the proliferation of drugs in their places that is why Mountain Province was able to achieve its drug-free status in just eight months of the government’s aggressive anti-drug campaign. – With a report from Dexter A. See