PNP to recall cops securing politicians
Policemen who are acting as security details to politicians will be recalled anytime soon.
This, PNP Regional Director Chief Supt. Isagani Cuevas said following an advice from the PNP National Headquarters.
The recall was apparently made earlier contrary to the previous guidance that the pull-out of security details will be made once the implementation of the total gun ban ends on June 9.
Cuevas said that they should have ordered the recall last May 19.
However, in the absence of an official memorandum from Camp Crame, they would adopt the June 9 recall.
“If we could not get a copy of a directive stating otherwise, we will stand by the June 9 validity of providing security details to political candidates,” he added.
The region’s top cop said that those who will be stripped of their security could re-apply if they deemed that their lives are under threat.
Cuevas pegged that some 200 policemen were detailed to candidates who asked for security.
He added that the number could boost the dearth of policemen, especially in some far-flung areas in Western Visayas.
In San Joaquin, Iloilo, Mayor Ninfa Garin sought for additional policemen citing reports that there police station is only manned by some 19 personnel.
But Cuevas said that the number could be higher since there is a existing directive that there must be at least 21 uniformed policemen in every PNP station.
However, “if the number is right, I will direct (Iloilo Provincial Police Office director) Senior Supt. Gumban to give additional personnel to the area, especially that the election is over,” he added.
Based on the latest performance evaluation conducted by IPPO, San Joaquin was placed at the 43rd spot among the 43 evaluated police stations.
It was surmised that the apparent dismal performance of San Joaquin police has something to do with lack of personnel and the fact that its chief of police is not from the area.
Once the chief of police takes his leave of absence, a vacuum would be felt for several days.
“We could take into consideration if we could assign a chief of police living in San Joaquin or its environs,” Cuevas said.
