New Cordi PNP chief seeks collaboration with religious, gov’t leaders

>> Sunday, April 18, 2021

 After exit of controversial reg’l cop head 

CAMP DANGWA, La Trinidad Benguet – Following the controversial administration of former Cordillera police chief Brig. Gen. R’win S. Pagkalinawan, the new regional police chief is doing a charm campaign to win people’s trust in government. 
    Pagkalinawan’s administration had been assailed by lawyers, religious and cause-oriented groups for his policies like his aborted “’tokhang” against so-called leftists, media, religious and cause-oriented groups.
    He also issued a shoot-to-kill” order against Windel Bolinget, chairman of the Cordillera People’s Alliance.
    Groups said police had been red-tagging them as being aligned with the Communist Party of the Philippines which they explained, was a violation of the Philippine Constitution, human rights and right to due process.        
    New Cordillera police director Brig. Gen. Oliver Lee is apparently not following the footsteps of his predecessor, observers said. 
    To strengthen collaboration and establish good working relationship, Lee made his first courtesy visit to religious and government leaders in Baguio City on April 13, a few days after he assumed office.
    Lee paid a courtesy call to the Bishop of the Diocese of Baguio, Most Reverend Victor B. Bendico and Bishop Reuel Norman Marigza of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) – Baguio.
    Both Bishops acknowledged the assistance being provided by Police Regional Office-Cordillera noting attendance of police during masses.
    In response, Lee said the PROCor is always open for police assistance, and attendance to religious activities as this is in line with the PNP's program on internal cleansing which aims to instill moral and spiritual values to police officers.
    Lee also paid a courtesy call on local government leaders who were in Baguio City last week.
    He met Ifugao Rep. Solomon R. Chungalao at Mines View, Baguio City.
    He also met Benguet Gov. Melchor Diclas and Benguet Caretaker congressman Eric Go Yap.
    Lee said he seeks to establish good working relations with local government leaders as he sought their support for programs of PROCor in maintenance of peace and order in the region.
    He pledged to strengthen collaboration and foster closer communication between PROCor and religious and government leaders for better services.
    In assuming office Monday last week in Camp Dangwa, regional police headquarters, Lee told commanders of police units in the region to stick to operational guidelines.
    He said commanders can come up with innovations to continue the campaign on illegal drugs, going after criminal groups and personalities, as well as the arrest of wanted persons but should be done based on their rules and procedures.
    He urged them to intensify campaign against illegal drugs which is among the law enforcement problems in the region, particularly illegal cultivation of marijuana plants.
    Lee, a native of La Union and speaks the Ilocano dialect, also urged them to partner with stakeholders
    “We shall establish smooth working relations with stakeholders in the Cordillera. Let us strengthen our collaboration and partnership with them and empower them to open their communication lines with us. We can make this happen if we can show them that we are a disciplined and professional police force. Let us help build a region conducive for growth and development, a place ideal to do work and business,” Lee said.
    The reminder is also in keeping with the directive of PNP chief General Debold Sinas to join hands with everyone for the achievement of a common goal in weeding out scalawags in the service.
    “Team PROCor, let us continue to impose discipline among our staff, putting emphasis on those who are new in the service and weed out the scalawags, incompetent and incorrigible and reward the good performers and those who do good deeds,” the police general said.
    Lee also expressed support to the peace efforts of the government under President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
    He said PROCor has gone a long way as an organization with his predecessors building on a standard that has earned the tag of the National Police Commission as the unit that is the most disciplined policemen in the country.
    Lt. Gen. Israel Ephraim Dickson, chief of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operations (DIPO) in northern Luzon, meanwhile, said “it is a challenge to be assigned as head of the most disciplined cops and the people who expect much from the police but will test the capacity of a leader of the PROCor”.
    Dickson also served as regional director of the PROCor until February 2020. He was preceded by Brig. Gen. R’win     Pagkalinawan who was replaced by Lee. – With reports from Liza Agoo/PNA 

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