43 cops ordered to explain absence during inspection

At least 43 policemen from the Cebu City Police Office were ordered to explain in writing their failure to attend the preparatory annual general inspection (Pre-AGI) conducted from August 2 to 4.

Chief Insp. Lourdes Ingente, chief of the CCPO administrative branch, told The Freeman that these policemen must submit valid reasons as to why they failed to attend the Pre-AGI.

"Inspection baya na, kinahanglang 100 percent g'yud baya ang attendance," Ingente said.

The Freeman learned that no one from among those absent policemen has a high rank and that only two officers were authorized to take a leave of absence during the inspection.

The 43 policemen were either absent during the physical accounting, rank inspections and the actual scenario practice. But many of those who were marked absent claimed that they were present during the inspection and even played a role during the "mock-scenarios" of actual incidents.

The Regional Internal Affairs Service had conducted the inspection to test the readiness of the city police for the Annual General Inspection that Camp Crame will hold later this month.

The inspection is considered a vital tool to determine how policemen react and operate in any event.

Supt. Melvin Gayotin, acting city police director, told The Freeman that those absent policemen could face administrative charges.

Although many of them were reportedly either responding to alarms or attending court duties, they must show valid proof for their absence, Gayotin said. - Edwin Ian Melecio