Res Gestae
Cuevas’ iron hand faces another challenge
Of the regional directors who once sit (at least from 2000 – present) at the Police Regional Office 6, Police Chief Superintendent Isagani R. Cuevas is one who started his office with stern warning against erring cops.
The top cop was resolved to clean the ranks of region’s police force with misfits and scalawags – those who are not reporting to duty, frequenting cockpits, engaging in illegal activities or identifying themselves with persons of “questionable” reputation and affiliation.
After a few months since his assumption, a group of police personnel who committed misdemeanor and breach of discipline was sent to the 6th Regional Mobile Groups to undergo retraining. Others were placed on moral values and character development training seminar. A few others were placed under investigation. And still a few others were slapped with suspension, while a handful is now facing summary dismissal proceedings.
Cuevas completed a year stint last month. Aside from countless of tangible changes he made at the PRO6 headquarters (these include new structures and landscapes), the top cop deserves praises and commendations for initiating reform among his men. The most prominent manifestation of this development is the visible presence of uniformed police personnel in our streets, terminals, outside the school and churches premises, and, yes, in malls. Worthy also of mention is the fast resolution of several cases of robbery and other criminal incidents in the province of Iloilo and other parts of the region.
These significant changes can be credited to the relentless implementation of Cuevas’ pet project 7-9-7 duty shift, making the police readily available to the public for assistance and response for emergencies.
To the keen observers, great has changed in the image of our police force. By police image, I mean, the way they wear their uniforms, deal with people, perform their duties and discharge their functions.
These are made possible not just by Cuevas’ feisty warning against unscrupulous members of the organization but credit must also go to the people… the public sector that cooperate, collaborate, and lift a finger for the transformation program of the PNP.
But, very recently, these developments face serious challenge. Two cases of conduct unbecoming resurrected in the consciousness of the public the “bad” image of our police: - the ‘tagay’ cops of Ilog Police Stations and the manhandling of POI Danny Beso by his seniors in Iloilo City Police Station 3 (Jaro). Sayang talaga!!!
However, while damage has already been done, we can still hope that Cuevas can turn these isolated cases of infractions by police personnel in favor of his thrusts for internal reforms of his organization.
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