PNP: No harassment, racial slur in eviction of squatters

By Dexter A. See

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad, Benguet – Police authorities here denied harassing and issuing alleged racial slurs against hundreds of squatters who erected their houses within the 8-hectare property of the Philippine National Police saying they are just doing their duty to preserve and protect the property from informal settlers.

Contrary to the claim of some squatters that they are being intimidated, Chief Supt. Samuel B. Diciano, deputy regional director for administration of the Police Regional Office in the Cordillera, said informal settlers, some of which are members of the PNP based in the camp, are using tactics to divert the attention of the public from the real issue that they have built their homes in government property, thus, they must be evicted to pave the way for the implementation of important projects for the welfare of the police force.

Based on available records, the 176 squatters were already given notices to vacate the premises of the camp during the tenure of Director Eugene G. Martin as regional director last Jan. 9 but the supposed eviction of the informal settlers could be traced to as early as 2001.

But informal settlers signed an agreement with Director Martin that they will temporarily occupy the structures they have reacted within the camp acknowledging that they do not own the property and they will voluntarily demolish their houses once the PNP needs the same.

According to Diciano, it is unfair for some of the squatters who are secretly trying to create a rift between him and police officers from the Cordillera by alluding to him irresponsible statements against Igorots.

“We have been working with Igorots for the past 24 years, thus, we could not afford to malign them because almost all those under us are Igorots and we respect each other,” he stressed.
On the issue on the alleged transfer of police officers who refuse to voluntarily demolish their houses, Diciano said transfer of police personnel lies in the discretion of the commander which has been a common practice over the past several decades, citing it is unfair to connect every move of the PNP leadership to the squatting problem in the military reservation.

The PNP plans to construct a 200-bed capacity quarters for police non-commissioned officers as well as put up a materials recovery facility in accordance to the marching orders of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in the spaces occupied by the squatters.

Under the PNP regulations, squatting is considered a grave misconduct of police commissioned and non-commissioned officers which is punishable by dismissal from the service if those charged are found guilty.

Initially, 20 active police personnel, including several police officers, have already voluntarily demolished their respective houses contrary to the misinformation that widespread demolition has already been effected within the premises of the military reservation since the PNP is still observing leniency to prevent whatever conflict that could arise between the informal settlers and law enforcers in the future.