Designation of retiring officers a violation of PNP law: young cops

By Mar T. Supnad

CAMP FLORENDO, La Union- The Philippine national Police hierarchy’s placing retiring officers to sensitive positions is not only a backward practice but also a violation of the PNP law.

This was the sentiment of majority of policemen particularly young and idealistic police officers here who said retiring policemen are no longer effective in performing their duties and responsibilities.

“Sino naman ang malapit nang magreretire na pulis ang banat pa ng banat sa trabaho, lalo na sa mga risky mission. Syempre, maski sino sa mga retireable ay lie low na lang sa trabaho dahil natatakot ding baka masabit pa o magkakaso bago mag retire, and this is unproductive and setback to the PNP’s transformation program,” said a policeman here.

Section 25 of Republic Act number 8551, states, “Except for the Chief of the PNP, no PNP member who has less than one year of service before reaching the compulsory retirement age shall be promoted to a higher rank or appointed to any other position,”

This was often grossly violated, they said.

Police officers who are being designated to sensitive positions such as regional directors (RD), provincial directors (PD), chief of police (COP) and other sensitive positions less than one year before their retirements, are not, they said, productive anymore in performing their duties since they are just already waiting for their retirement date.

Claiming that they are concerned with the organization, the officers appealed to the National Police Commission and PNP chief Jesus Versoza to look into their advocacy of not giving sensitive positions to retiring policemen as this is counter-productive.

They said this runs counter to the PNP chief’s transformation program in the PNP. “Bukod sa di na magtratrabaho ng maayos tong mga retiring policemen na ito ay uubusin pa nila ang anumang resources sa PNP dahil nag-aantay na sila ng kanilang retirement sa serbisyo,” said a policeman.

The PNP hierarchy has sometimes violating its own charter and the law by designating police officers with only less than a year remaining in service to “sensitive but juicy positions,” earning the ire of some local chief executives and causing demoralization to other police officers.”

The policemen cited a retiring former PD in Ilocos Sur who was designated PD few months before his retirement.

This PD, they claimed, was no longer working but only waiting for the arrival of emoluments and other benefits.

Highly reliable sources said a chief superintendent with around five months of remaining service is reportedly being groomed to take over the RD position here following the retirement last Tuesday of General Constante Azares who reached the mandatory age of 56.